3 hunger strikers sent to jail
Leader's meet today to chalk out further course of action
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 30 2011:
Three more women hunger strike agitators who are staging fast unto death at Sapermaina demanding for a full fledged district of Sadar Hills has been sent to jail by an order of the court today.
They were produced before the duty Magistrate, CJM Senapati, Rajnikanta this afternoon around 2 pm today.
The three hunger strike agitators have been fasting since September 23 at Sapermaina bazaar.
Police have arrested the strikers at 8 am this morning as their conditions deteriorated.
Sources said that the arrest was bailable, however the strikers vowed to continue their hunger strike as soon as they are released.
Considering the potential threat to their lives the court sent the striker to judicial custody today.
The three women agitators who were sent to Central Jail Imphal has been identified as Kimlhai Lhouvum (50), w/o Ngamjang of S Bollen, Hatneng Khongsai (54), w/o (L) Thonghao of Eastern Sapermaina and Ngamthem Gangte (54), w/o (L) Paojalet of Salem.
One of the women protestors said "The government has been remaining indifferent to the demand of the Sadar Hills people and we will continue our strike until our demands are met" .
Vahchin, a woman leader, expressed her resentment over the indifferent attitude of the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers for the last 2 months.
She appealed to the general public not to interpret the blockade as harassment meted out to them.
Meanwhile, the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee has convened a Leaders meet tomorrow to discuss the further course of action to be undertaken.
The meeting will be held at the Council Hall Kangpokpi at 11:30 am attended by the Committee members, MLAs, Ex-MLA, MDCs, representative of Chief's Association and church leaders.
The meeting will also review the progress of the agitation so far and chalk out its third phase of agitation to be conducted in October, Sources said.
In the meantime, the Leimakhong Area Chief Organisation has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary, DS Poonia who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Re-organisation of Administrative and Police Boundaries (CRAPB), strongly opposing any move for re-organisation.
It warned that any motive or compulsive inclusion of Leimakhong Area into Imphal West district will only invite and ignite communal disharmony, public unrest and even violence, of which the government and the committee will be solely responsible.