Konsakhul Area Joint Action Committee (KAJAC) demanded immediate suspension of the concerned officer In-charge for firing live bullets against the peaceful protesters on Friday, failing which the KAJAC said it will intensify its agitation.
TFM Desk
Konsakhul Area Joint Action Committee (KAJAC) on Friday declared “indefinite total bandh” in the state from January 31, 2021 midnight along the national and state highways and banned all the national projects in Naga areas, as a response to ‘the government of Manipur’s arrogance and indifferent attitude towards the hill people by suppressing the rights of the traditional landowner and grabbing tribal land forcefully for construction of the proposed National Sports University (NSU) complex, Manipur”.
The KAJAC also condemned in the strongest term for use of “sophisticated weapons” against the peaceful protesters.
“We demand immediate suspension of the concerned officer In-charge for firing live bullets against the peaceful protesters on Friday, failing which the KAJAC will intensify its agitation,” it said in a release.
However, essential services, including medical emergency, fire brigade, media, power, water supply and telecommunication have been exempted from the purview of the total bandh.
KAJAC said that although they had tried with their best efforts to resolve the NSU imbroglio in a peaceful and democratic way by conveying their grievances through memorandum, representation, petition etc, the Manipur government failed to respond to their calls to resolve the issue amicably.
“The aim of this move is to press the government of Manipur to stop grabbing tribal land forcefully for the proposed construction of NSU complex and acknowledge the lawful traditional landowner i.e. Konsakhul village (Konsaram) under Senapati district, Manipur as primary stakeholder,” it added.
The release also said that every tribal village has its own distinct traditional boundary, jurisdiction and has its own way of life. “To us, the land and the people cannot be separated as our culture, tradition and identity are interwoven with the land,” it added.