SHDDC announces General strike
Ministers and officials to face boycott in Sadar Hills
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 29 2011: In protest against the alleged delay of justice to the people of Sadar hills, Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) has declared imposition of 48 hours general strike/total bandh in the hill areas of Manipur with effect from midnight of October 31 to midnight of November 2 and indefinite total bandh in areas under Sadar hills with effect from midnight of October 31 .

Announcing this, a statement issued by the Information & Publicity Wing of SHDDC alleged that the government of Manipur is communalising the constitutional issue of Sadar Hills inauguration as a full-fledged Autonomous District to flare up tension among communities in Manipur.

The statement pointed out that the people of Sadar Hills is not asking for separate land but separate administration for better development which the Constitution of India had envisioned back in 1971 .

SHDDC contended that leaving a constitutional Act or provision unimplemented in a particular area without proper and suitable reasons for forty years is a matter of constitutional crisis.

" Both the union government and the state government have shown little inclination to address the Sadar Hills issue.

Since we began our prayer to the state government three months has passed and nothing positive has come out since.

SHDDC has also appealed to the general public and Hill-based civil societies to kindly observe the bandh and support SHDDC and enforce the bandh in their respective areas for the cause of justice to the tribals in general.

NNN adds: Enraged over the alleged barbaric and illogical act of Works Minister K Ranjit in connection with the incident that occurred at Kangpokpi in Senapati district on Thursday, wherein state security forces indiscriminately fired teargas shells and live bullets at a group of women, injuring eight of them, the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) has strongly condemned the incident and prepared not to allow any Minister or official to pass through Sadar Hills from November 1 .

'October 27', 2011 will be remembered as 'Anti-people's Day' in the history of Sadar Hills.

The day the State Government used its 'full strength' to suppress the constitutional demand of the people of Sadar Hills, SHDDC said in a statement.

SHDDC said it strongly condemned the barbaric and illogical act of K.Ranjit for exercising 'unrestraint reign of terror' upon the peaceful women bandh supporters congregated at Kangpokpi only to air their 40-year-old grievance over the demand for inauguration of Sadar Hills as a full-fledged Autonomous District as per 'Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous district Council Act, 1971.Minister Ranjit was requested by the womenfolk at Kangpokpi to have a talk with him.

However, he refused to alight from his official vehicle in which he was travelling, the statement said.

Instead of listening to the agitators, Ranjit called in reinforcement of more than 200 Manipur police commandos coming in more than 45 Gypsy vehicles to escort him.

He clandestinely created a chaotic situation in Sadar Hills instead of appeasing the women agitators, SHDDC alleged.

The commandos elite force of the State fired more than 200 rounds of teargas and around 600 live rounds at the peaceful and democratic women agitators from Gamgiphai and Kangpokpi along National Highway 2 and another 100 rounds of mock bombs were also fired causing serious bullet injuries to eight women agitators-two at Saparmeina and seven at Keithelmanbi, they said.

"Stones and pebbles are sufficient for us if we wanted.

The allegation made by Minister Ranjit that his vehicle was attacked with bullets needs thorough investigation.

The countless number of bullets fired from the security forces in an unprofessional manner must have landed on his vehicle", SHDDC countered.

Sit-in protests on Saturday were organized in various places of Sadar Hills showing condemnations against the scuffle between security forces and women economic bandh supporters that led to wounding eight women at Kangpokpi on October 27 .

"Minister Ranjit visited Senapati in an inspection trip.

A group of women approached him to enquire as to why the Minister did not visit the already completed Mini Secretariat at Kangpokpi first but he declined to give any answer to the question raised by them", said Nemvah Misao, a protester.

"We do not agree with the Minister regarding his statement that was given in connection with the incident which was published in local dailies today.

Minister Ranjit told a lie when he stated that we forced him to give assurance on the declaration of Sadar Hills districthood by signing on a blank paper.

We also condemn the whole alleged kidnapping charge levelled against the agitators", he said.

They also strongly denounced the firing of teargas and live bullets at nearby residences.

Hemjang Kipgen, Leikop station commander said at a protest site at Golmural that 'we pelted stones at the security forces just to let them know our presence' .

Comment