SHDDC intensifies stir, bandh on the card
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 24: Decrying the indifferent attitude of the State Government to the demand for district status to Sadar Hills inspite of the ongoing agitation of picketing Government offices, financial institutions and educational institutions being spearheaded by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee entering its fifth day today, the various social organisations of the area have decided to take out a mass protest rally.

Government offices being locked up in Sadar Hills by SHDDC members and road to Moreh blocked after the bandh was imposed

The Committee has also decided to go ahead with its decision of calling a total bandh in Sadar Hills area with effect from midnight of August 26 to 28.In pursuance of its demand, the Committee has been picketing the Government offices, financial institutions and educational institutions since August 20.The educational institutions were brought under the purview of the ongoing agitation since yesterday.

It is said that the agitation will continue till August 26.A media team from Imphal which had gone to Sadar Hills today witnessed deployment of security personnel in all the Government offices including the office of SDC though the offices were locked and the administrative work paralysed.

All the educational institutions have also stopped functioning.

Talking to the media team at Kangpokpi, president of District Demand Committee Haokholien Guite said in view of the indifferent attitude of the Government to the demand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full-fledged revenue district even after five days of picketing the Government offices, financial and educational institutions, the Committee has decided to go ahead with its earlier resolution of calling a total bandh in Sadar Hills area including the National Highways with effect from midnight of August 26 to 28.All the essential services including press would be exempted from the purview of the press.

A joint meeting of the representatives of various social organisations yesterday has also decided to take out a mass rally in protest against the failure of the State Government to give a positive response to the justified demand of the people, he informed.

'In case the Government deaf and mute to the demand even after the protest rally, we are prepared to take recourse to various intense agitations which would have far reaching effects', Guite said.

Denouncing the steps being taken up the Government to hold Panchayat election in Sadar Hills area, he stated categorically that Panchayat election would not be allowed to be held in Sadar Hills area at any cost.

The attempt of the Government to impose two types of local self Governments in a district is to encourage enmity and bloodshed among the people various communities living in the area, he contended.

Even if all those aspiring candidates of the Panchayat election have submitted their nomination papers and failed to withdraw their nominations in time, they should publicly declared their resignation from contesting in the election, he demanded, adding that no voters should come to cast their votes.

Panchayat election should be held in Panchayat area only, not in Sadar Hills he said categorically, while giving warning signal that outcome of the State Government's attempt to hold Panchayat election in Sadar Hills area against the aspiration of the people would not be good, he added.