BISHNUPUR, February 29: Tension gripped Thanga in Bishnupur district after a sit-in-protest was staged near the venue of a one-day political conference with both sides seemingly from rival groups.
The political conference was organized by Thanga Block Congress Committee at Thanga Haorang Chingyang Community Hall yesterday with MLA of Thanga Constituency T Mangibabu who is also the Chairman of PDA; vice-president of TBCC O Irabot; active member O Paka; executive members Dr Dr N Yaima and N Manimohon attending as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
On the other hand, the sit-in-protest demonstration was organized by Apunba Nupi Lup Thanga along the way leading to the community hall, against the alleged deprivation of PDS items in Thanga Constituency.
The protestors held placards which read ‘’Wake up our local MLA’’, ‘’We want development’’, ‘’Punish those who swindled PDS items’’.
A team of Bishnupur District Police headed by Addl SP K Meghachandra and DSP Abdul Kalam was deployed at the protest site to thwart any untoward incident.
The protestors waited till 5 pm, claiming that DC Bishnupur gave permission for holding the political conference till 5 pm.
It is said that permit for staging the sit-in-protest was not sought.
When the political conference was continuing till 5.10 pm, the protestors shouted slogans, bringing the situation tense.
SP Bishnupur Themthing Ngashangva and SDC Moirang Sobinson were also present at the area to take stock of the volatile situation.
As the number of the people gathered at the sit-in-protest site increased, the police team fired mock bomb to disperse them.
However, the political conference continued despite the tense situation.
Speaking to media persons, convener of Thanga Kendra Development Committee H Kulachandra who was present at the protest demonstration said that PDS items in Thanga Constituency are not distributed to the beneficiaries accordingly.
He pointed out that in absence of the distribution; people had to buy rice at Rs 20-15 per kg. BPL families who are supposed to get 4 litres of kerosene a month are getting only half litre that also at Rs 25 per litre.
This is an act of looting BPL and AAY families which is unacceptable, he fumed.
Refuting the claim, MLA Mangibabu said that PDS items are being distributed in the constituency in a transparent manner.
He further said that BPL and AAY card holders in the constituency are not clearly classified, making it difficult to identify the deserving beneficiaries.