Offices sealed in Sadar Hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 20: Pursuing their long standing demand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full fledged revenue district, the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) has started to seak all Government offices located within Sadar Hills area from today.

In case the State Government fails to give a definite response by August 25, a total bandh of 48 hours will be imposed in Sadar Hills area with effect from midnight of August 26, warned SHDDC.

A volunteer of SHDDC locking up a Govt office

Activists of the SHDDC have so far sealed SDC office, office of the Autonomous District Council and ZEO office located at Kangpokpi and also the Government offices and banks located at Gamnom Sapermeina.

The agitation to seal all Government offices in Sadar Hills will continue till August 25.The same mode of agitation will encompass all educational institutions from August 23.This will be followed by a total bandh of 48 hours in Sadar Hills if the State Government fails to come out with a definite response, said SHDDC general secretary Thangkam Misao.

He asserted that successive Governments have been ignoring the issue since 1974.In the interregnum, Chandel and Bishnupur districts have been created.

Later Imphal East district was also created keeping out Sadar Hills from the scheme even though the two areas were slated to be granted district status at the same time, observed Thangkam.

In pursuit of the long cherished dream of the Sadar Hills people, there were numerous economic blockades, general strikes, protest demonstrations etc over the years but to no avail, he recalled.

On all these occasions of people's movements, volumes of MoUs have been signed.

Moreover, the demand for district status to Sadar Hills has been approved by the State Assembly and the Cabinet besides findings its place in the Governor's address in the State Assembly, noted Thangkam while questioning the possible difficulties of the State Government to implement its own decision.

He also lamented the alleged delaying tactics being employed by Chief Minister O Ibobi who has been testing the patience of people saying that Sadar Hills and Jiribam will be granted district status together at the same time.

The forthcoming Panchayat elections will be boycotted totally in Sadar Hills.

Any one found filing nomination paper or casting votes will be construed as challenging the common aspiration of Sadar Hills, he warned, while questioning the logic behind holding Panchayat elections in Sadar Hills where Autonomous District Council has been functioning already.