Manipur CM’s event cancelled as tribals protesting against land survey clash with police

The district authorities have shut down the Internet in Churachandpur and its neighbouring district Pherzawl for five days, to control the situation. (Express)

However, those enforcing the shutdown managed to reach near the event venue, where the CM was to address a public meeting, and clashed with the police. Singh then decided to postpone the visit, as part of which he was to bring equipment for an open gym. It was this gym, apart from chairs put up for the CM’s rally, that was destroyed by the mob Thursday night.

The district authorities have shut down the Internet in Churachandpur and its neighbouring district Pherzawl for five days, to control the situation.

Churachandpur tribal areas have been rife with apprehension that an accumulated land and forest survey done by the government recently will lead to tribal land in hill districts being declared protected forest.

It was the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) that had given the call for an eight-hour total shutdown in Churachandpur, starting 8 am, in protest against the survey. An order issued by the Home Department has blamed volunteers and supporters of the ITLF for the violence around the CM’s visit.

The ITLF shutdown call saw wide support Friday, with protesters burning tyres to block the roads, ensuring that all business establishments and educational institutions were shut, and that public transportation did not ply. The ITLF also announced non-cooperation with any government programme in the district.

Tribal activist H Mangchingkhup, who is also the chief of Bungmual village, accused the government of holding no consultations with him, or others, when the survey was conducted. There has been no official government word on the survey.

“Tension gripped our village as the purpose of the survey was not disclosed. The only purpose I can perceive for such a survey is to declare our areas as protected forest, and subsequently our eviction from there. We will not take this lightly,” he said.

Bungmual, which is located at the edge of the district headquarters of Lamka, is among the handful of villages that fall under the Churachandpur-Khoupum protected forest. This protected forest covers around 490 sq km and is spread across the districts of Churachandpur, Bishnupur and Noney.

The government has property rights over a protected forest, as per provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. In protected areas, rights for hunting and grazing are sometimes given to communities living on the fringes of the forest, who sustain their livelihood partially or wholly from forest resources or products.

Warning of “stern action” against those who had destroyed public property, Biren Singh said Friday: “No one can hamper any kind of developmental work. Those who are involved in such anti-development and anti-social activities will not be spared. It is the BJP government’s commitment.”

The CM also said he had cancelled his visit at the request of local MLA LM Khaute, who cited the tense situation. The CM had been invited by Khaute to inaugurate the gym.

A significant number of people, including government officials, were waiting to welcome the CM at the PT Sports Complex when a large group of protesters tried to storm the venue. The police used tear gas to try and disperse the mob, and in retaliation, the protesters pelted stones. As per officials, at least one police personnel was injured and two protesters were arrested.

Considering the volatile situation, the authorities then cancelled the event.

The embarrassment for Biren Singh comes atop the resignation of four BJP MLAs in quick succession recently, complaining reportedly of his style of working. BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra arrived in Imphal Thursday to hold talks with party MLAs.