Slur casts on 10 AR

IMPHAL, Mar 19 : The Zou People Council has alleged that personnel of 10 Assam Rifles along with activists of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) bashed up villagers of Khullen Khailet in Sajik Tampak on March 14 night.

Insisting that on the fateful night the security force personnel maintained vigil around Khullen Khailet village while UKLF activists unleashed terror, the Council further charged the AR team that accompanied the UKLF cadres of threatening to thrash the men and women folk, raze down the entire village without sparing even the children in case they (villagers) defy UKLF diktats.

Recounting suffering of the villagers, the Council said many Zous had been facing difficulties in day to day survival in the aftermath of the Indian Army’s ‘Operation All Clear’ during which houses in seven village including three inhabited by the Zou people were completely destroyed forcing the people to settle in other villages where there is semblance of security ambience.

Contending that the UKLF gang and the central security forces have been ceaselessly conniving to wipe out Zou and Baite communities from their own homestead, the Council also urged the Baite people settled in Sajik Tampak area to join hands in keeping away disturbing elements.

While cautioning that prolonging the UKLF-Army campaign would provoke the Zou people to resort to appropriate measures towards safeguarding the villagers and properties, the Zou people Council stated that any untoward incident arising out of the situation should be the sole responsibility of authorities of the security force being stationed at Sajik Tampak areas.

The Sangai Express

ADC Bill referred to HAC

By Our Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Mar 19 : After the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Bill 2008 was referred to Select Committee to look into any lapses and flaws, the same Bill was tabled at the State Assembly today.
However, the Assembly has referred the Bill to the Hill Areas Committee for further studies.

Tabling the report of the Select Committee on the District Council Bill 2008, Tribal Development and Hills Minister DD Thaisii recalled that the Bill was tabled in the House on March 6 with approval from the Governor after which it was referred to the Hill Areas Committee.

Then the report of the HAC was tabled in the House. However before the report was discussed in the House, the Bill was referred to the Select Committee as certain lapses were detected in the Bill, Thaisii said.
Before tabling its report today, the Select Committee studied the Bill for two days. The Minister also proposed that the Bill be referred to the HAC again.

Supporting the proposal, Radhabinod also suggested that Bill should be referred to the HAC for a thorough observation. Stating that he has studied the report, O Joy asserted that there are still some lapses in the Bill. In case of a District Council member committing any criminal act or having nexus with UG groups, the Bill does not spell out procedure under which the member disqualified, elaborated Joy. As the Principle Bill has not been studied thoroughly, the Bill should be referred to the HAC again for a more detail study, echoed Joy. CM O Ibobi stated that it has been the desire of the Govt to conduct District Council elections so that Govt institutes can function fully in hill districts. To facilitate delimitation of District Councils and to conduct election of District Councils before the onset of rainy season, the Bill may be referred to the HAC so as to enable it give an immaculate report, stated the Chief Minister.

The Sangai Express