Unidentified miscreants caused tense moments this week when they attacked a village over ongoing dispute on the government’s failure to carry out proper land demarcations for the National Sports University at Haraothel. The Framework Agreement too came in for scrutiny in Imphal at a meeting hosted by the MPCC that resolved to protect the state’s integrity. Meanwhile, the state government claimed that it has already spent Rs. 60 crores on tackling the Covid pandemic, while the AMSU put locks at the gate of the Education department over the school fee impasse.
Violence Over Contentious NSU Site
The dispute over the site of India’s only National Sports University at Haraothel turned violent, reports say. The villagers of Koutruk, Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou had donated their grazing ground in the Haraothel Uyok (Forest conserved by the villagers) for construction of the National Sports University in 2016 as the earlier proposed site at Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district it turned out was likely to cost more in land development besides a controversy between the land holders and the government.
The villagers of Senjam Khunou, Senjam Chirang and Koutruk state that the site belongs to the three villages and that their forefathers had bought the land from the State Darbar by paying Rs. 13. According to Manipur State Darbar records in 1827, Haraothel is shown as the grazing ground for Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou villages. Further, the site comes under the jurisdiction of Imphal West district, according to the Manipur Government gazette notification dated December 20, 2016.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for National Sports University on 16 March, 2018 and construction is going on at present.
Reports say a group of unidentified people attacked Leimakhong Chingmang village, Imphal West district at around 7.30 pm on October 8 and damaged five houses apart from inflicting injuries to at least seven villagers.
The miscreants attacked Leimakhong Chingmang village by pelting stones and used catapults in addition to vandalising five houses. Earlier the previous night, some miscreants also vandalised and destructed the Meitei’s sylvan deity Kounu Lairembi’s complex. The assailants reportedly spoke broken Manipuri, reports added.
The incident followed after the District Administration of Imphal West district conducted a survey for final demarcation of the NSU area on October 5 and was blocked by some villagers from the other side of the area contending that demarcation should not be done without the administration of Kangpokpi district and civil society organisations of Kangpokpi.
Civil Voluntary Organisations (CVOs) of Kangpokpi district including KWU Sadar Hills, KTC, KWWO, KYU among others under the aegis of KSO Sadar Hills has imposed total bandh along NH-2 from 1 pm of October 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 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, reports added.
The situation was aggravated by the agreement reached between the Government of Manipur and KSO and KIM renaming the site of the NSU as Haraothel, Kangpokpi district against the wishes of the villagers who donated the land.
Framework Agreement And Manipur’s Integrity
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has resolved to welcome the Framework Agreement between the government of India (GOI) and the NSCN (I-M) and other Naga organisations only if the solutions do not disturb the territorial integrity, cultural integrity, social, administration and financial integrity of the state.
Reports say the resolution was taken during a consultative interaction on Framework Agreement between the GOI, the NSCN (IM) and other Naga organisations held on Friday. The programme was organised by the Research Department of MPCC (RD, MPCC) at its premises, BT Road in Imphal.
The resource persons of the consultation were editor, FPSJ Review of Arts and Politics, Pradip Phanjoubam; chairman, Kuki Reformation Forum, TS Haokip and Professor MC Arunkumar of department of Anthropology, Manipur University.
Rs. 60 Cr Spent Tackling Covid Pandemic
The Manipur government has spent over Rs. 60 crore in tackling COVID-19 till now with major expenses incurred on COVID testing, expenses in setting up and operating quarantine centres, COVID Care Centres and handling of returnees among others.
Reports said it was disclosed by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren to media persons on October 7 that in spite of resource constraints, the State Government still stands committed to spare no efforts in tackling the pandemic.
AMSU Locks Education Office Over Fees
Reinstating its demand to the education department to revoke its October 5 order regarding school fees collection, volunteers of the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) locked the gate of the directorate of education (S) at Lamphelpat in Imphal on October 9.
Reports say the AMSU will enforce closure of the education directorate’s office till an understanding between the union and the education department regarding the monthly fee structure of schools is arrived at.
The students union has been demanding the state government revoke the education(s) department order that directed private schools to collect 30 percent monthly payable school fees from the parents of students for the period of closure of schools, i.e from April 2020.
As per the latest order, the education department also instructed all aided schools to collect 30 percent of the monthly payable fees from the students starting from April last. Besides this, it also directed to give 50 per cent monthly payable salary to teachers and staff of the schools.
Covid Virus Is Weak In 10 Days
Asymptomatic Covid-19 positive persons cannot spread the virus to another person 10 days after testing positive as the virus becomes weak in 10 days’ time, though it can survive in the human body for 90 days, the health department has stated, according to reports in an Imphal daily.
