Civil voluntary Organisations (CVOs) of Kangpokpi district in Manipur has imposed total bandh along NH-2 from 1 pm Monday till October 10 midnight.
The bandh is imposed as a mark of protest against the alleged failure of the state government to conduct proper demarcation of the disputed site of National Sports University (NSU).
The decision was taken in a late joint meeting of all the CVOs of Kangpokpi including KWU Sadar Hills, KTC, KWWO, KYU among others under the aegis of KSO Sadar Hills. The decision has been endorsed by Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District with consultation of KSO-GHQs, all branches of KSO, Kuki Inpi Manipur, ATSUM and tribal organisations in the state.
According to the resolution, all vehicular movement, business establishments, functioning of all government institutions will be closed during the total bandh in the district.
Only emergency services such as medical, press and media among others will be exempted from the purview of the bandh. The CVOs has also cautioned that violators will bear their own responsibility.
The demands of the public are to declare the current illegitimate demarcation as null and void, constitute a proper legitimate demarcation committee, publicise the findings of the state government's District Boundary Commission first before conducting the demarcation.
The demarcation of the NSU campus at the disputed land of L Tangnaum village (Haraothel) in Kangpokpi District was conducted since Saturday.
KSO Sadar Hills president, Thangminlen Kipgen said that the total bandh is out of public anger over the repeated efforts of the state government to encroach the land of Haraothel in the name of development without accommodating the sentiment of the concerned tribal populace.
He questioned how Imphal West district administration claim the entire proposed NSU site under Imphal West district when the state government appointed district boundary committee finding is yet to be finalised.
“Why is the Manipur government ignoring the pending case regarding NSU site at the court of National Commission for Scheduled Tribe at New Delhi? Why is the state government ignoring its promise to conduct NSU site demarcation in the presence of both Imphal West and Kangpokpi district administration,” he further asked.
The KSO Sadar Hills also contended over the silence of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council on the current issue when they have already identified the disputed site as under the administration of the council.
Thangminlen Kipgen maintained that they do not want the shifting of the NSU nor do they oppose the construction and demarcation of the site.
“It is the attitude of the state government to bulldoze the plan without proper and legitimate process and ignoring the sentiment of the tribal people that we are against,” he added.
He urged the government to resolve the issue amicably by accommodating the sentiment of all stakeholders over the issue and also appealed and other tribal organisations to render all possible support and cooperation in the movement.
