Imphal, November 14 2008: WHILE A section of people affected by the dam are protesting, the Thoubal Area Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills has said that they are strongly against the name of Maphou Dam as Mapithel Dam terming it as a "one line tribe theory".

"Mapithel dam is unknown to the people and is unseen agenda of vested interest, newly created, it should be named as Maphou Dam as the existing and the geographical area is concerned," the statement of the Thoubal area Inpi today said.

While reacting to the organization of rally ad chakka bandhs called against the name of Mapithel Dam is a one line tribe theory, the statement alleged that naming of Maphou Dam as Mapithel Dam was objected at a rally held at Ukhrul on May 19 this year orgainsed by Naga People Movements for Human Rights (NPMHR), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Mayar Long (TML), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) in which director of inter-cultural research Smitu Kothari, New Delhi was attended.

It also flayed that the rally of November 3 last organized by villagers affected affected by both upstream and downstream of the Thoubal Multi-purpose project for economic package terming it as a "communal rally" and said that it was "sectoral in nature".

It also expressed that they will punish or imposed fine under customary law to the tribes constituted in the committee in the past and present and attended and support the Mapithel Dam affected village committee after a detail judgment by the elders.

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