KANGPOKPI, May 5: Thousand of women of Sadar Hills under the aegis of CSOs Sadar Hills today staged a sit-in-protest at Gamgiphai village in Sadar Hills against the creation of Commando Outpost and stationing Cdo personnel at Gamgiphai village since April 29 evening.
The women protestors mostly donned black clothes from different parts of Sadar Hills congregated at Gamgiphai this morning and began the protest demonstration at around 10 am.
Placards which read such as, ‘We don’t need Commando in Hill district’, ‘This is Sadar Hills not Imphal West’, ‘We live in peace before Commando arrive’, ‘We want peace we don’t want harassment’, ‘Go back IW Commando we don’t need you’, ‘Instead of Sadar Hills inauguration why Commandos?’, ‘Don’t play political game on Sadar Hills public’, etc.
IFCD Minister who came to attend a funeral service at Sapormeina was detained for a while at the sit-in-protest site by the women protestors and demand early solution over the Cdo issue at Gamgiphai in Sadar Hills while the IFC Minister assured for the early solution.
All business establishments in Sadar Hills along the National Highway have been closed while the sit-in-protest is taking place at Gamgiphai. However, traffic along the highway continues as usual with any disturbance.
The civil bodies including KSO, KWU, TSA, TYA, TWA and other local bodies also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding immediate withdrawal of the Commandos from the soil of Sadar Hills.
The joint representation of Sadar Hills civil bodies stated that stationing of Imphal West Commandos at Gamgiphai village since April 29 has evoked strong resentment among the inhabitants of Sadar Hills which if not immediately redressed in sync with the people’s demand for immediate withdrawal is bound to culminate into massive outburst from the public.
It also cautioned that the government should be solely held accountable for any damages, arson, vandalism and deaths in the event of any fall-out/aftermath for non compliance.
Vehemently opposing the station of Commandos at Gamgiphai in Sadar Hills, one woman leader said that people of Sadar Hills feel insecure when the state force who has no hesitation in using live bullet towards the hill peoples are dispatched for our protection.
Another woman leader lamented that if it is for highway protection then there is enough para military force and district police looking after the same.
The state government could have strengthened the district police if it feels unsecure of the law and order situation, she said.
District police personnel led by SDPO Senapati and Addl. SP Kangpokpi monitored the situation at the protest site so as to avoid any untoward incident.
The CSOs leaders are reportedly said to have another joint meeting for its further course of agitation.