Moreh residents serve ultimatum for settling of compensation claims

MOREH, Feb 24: Residents of the border town of Moreh have served an ultimatum to the state government on Saturday setting a deadline of February 29 for payment of adequate compensation to the people who were displaced due to the occupation by the personnel of the Manipur Rifles, even as another separate memorandum to the chief minister called for proper implementation of child education, child health policies and rights of the children in Moreh.

A total of 14 houses were taken over when the 7th Manipur Rifles opened its post at Moreh leaving altogether 93 people displaced, the residents have demanded asking for immediate action to compensate the victims.
Several memorandums were submitted to the state chief minister, DGP and ADC, Moreh but so far no appropriate action has been taken up, lamented the Moreh residents in a meeting held yesterday during a sit-in protest here.

The meeting drafted four resolutions which among others drew the attention of the concerned authorities to an ultimatum served with February 29 as the deadline for payment of compensation to the evicted people.

Otherwise, a strong agitation would be launched for which the state government will have to bear all the responsibility.
A peace rally organized by the Centre for Social Development, Moreh and participated by students of 14 schools was also, in the meantime, taken out yesterday in Moreh town.

The rally which kicked off from Sun Rise Ground and marched down the streets passing through Talklines, NH-39, Moreh gate no. 1, Dalpani ended at the originating place where a public meeting was held.
The meeting which Ph Ibohal, SDC Moreh, Dr. S Priyokumar, MO in-charge Moreh hospital, Md Nahamacha, president MMCM, Tathotleima, president NKCLL, Kh Keinaleima, president, KNANL and S Rabichandra, general secretary, Tamil Sangam attended resolved on a six-point resolution to be put up before the state chief minister through the SDC, Moreh.

The memorandum urged the state government to take action to ensure proper functioning of government run educational institutions in and around Moreh town with child friendly environment and adequate educational infrastructure and facilities for children.

It also urged for special educational provisions for children who are victims of armed conflict, gender violence, drugs, HIV/AIDS and special protection to them.

The memorandum also drew the attention of the state government for the proper implementation of the children related schemes like the mid-day meal programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and opportunity to access those schemes by all children.

Calling for opening a child centre in Moreh, the memorandum also urged for proper functioning of children’s specialist doctors and gynecologist doctors in Moreh hospital and adequate treatment facilities for children and pregnant women.

It also asked the state to provide ART treatment facilities for HIV affected children in Moreh with centres at Moreh and provision of drinking water to every household and maintenance of safely norms.

IFP

Inter-state bus services suspended indefinitely in state, Increased extortion related harassments cited as cause

IMPHAL, Feb 24: The suspension of services of the inter-state passenger buses along National Highway-39 has caused immense hardships to the travelers along this route. The services have been suspended owing to the unbearable extortion demands served on them by militant groups operating in the state, a source said Sunday.

The ticket booking counters in Imphal have also remained closed since yesterday.

People are traveling upto Dimapur in Nagaland for their onward journey to other states in taxis which have also hiked the fares due to the heavy demand. Taxi services which are seen operating in the normal time are taking upto Rs. 500 per passenger and that too is not easily available.

Others who are in great need of reaching their destinations outside the state for urgent work, most importantly candidates appearing in competitive examinations, were seen rushing to the air ticket counters for air journey upto Guhawati.

Some youths who were scheduled to leave today for taking part in a typing test for the post of junior accountant officers of the Airports Authority of India at Guhawati, which is to commence from February 26, strongly lamented the suspension of services and said that it would be a great disappointment if they could not appear in the test.

"We are preparing for the examination with high hopes and if we cannot reach in time our long cherished dream will be shattered," they lamented before leaving the counter where they came to refund their tickets.

They left the counter and proceeded to the air ticket counters nearby to look for tickets upto Guwahati.

According to a person running an inter-state bus ticket counter at North AOC in Imphal, buses had suspended their services from yesterday (February 23) as they received threats of attack from a militant group for not meeting their demands.

The person, who did not want to be named, said that not only cadres of a group of Kangleipak Communists Party, KCP, but other groups of the same outfit have been pressing the proprietors of the buses and booking counters to meet their demands for money.

However, he did not disclose the amount demanded by each group but hinted that the amount is huge and beyond the capacity of the owners of the buses.

The inter-state bus services in Manipur, mention may be made, have suspended their services frequently in the last few years owing to the militant extortion demands.

Last year also, on many occasions, they had to suspend their services due to the militant demands.

IFP