Verification of Mapithel dam affected villagers taken up under 144 CRPC cover

IMPHAL, April 4: The verification drive for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Chadong villager  affected by the Mapithel multipurpose dam was partly taken up today by imposing 144 CRPC in the area. Locals of the village staged a sit in protest at Riha Village and the blocked the road leading toward Chadong village by burning tyres and placing tree trunks.

The sit in protest at Riha included the villagers of Thawai, Chadong, Riha and Lamlai. Angry protestors also burnt the effigy of the State Chief Minister O Ibobi and shouted slogans by calling out “No verification, No review, No Dam; we deserve our right,"  "stop divisive policy", "Go back DC Ukhrul."

Speaking to the media, locals reiterated the stand that the verification for rehabilitation and resettlement for the affected villagers can be taken up only  after the expert review committee report is finalized adding that it was very unfortunate that the state government was using a large number of police personal in the area for the mere process of verification.

When a team of media person reached Chadong village, a large number of police personal were found in the area along with  K Kabik Ukhrul SP, SDPO Phunyar , R Sudhan  DC Ukhrul,  SDO Phunyar and other officials of the district.

One of the affected villagers told the media said that  CRPC 144 had been imposed in Chadong village from 6 pm of  April 2 up to 6 pm today following which, a large number of the police personal have been deployed  after the confrontation with the DC and other officials yesterday. The confrontation between villagers and officials had led to tear gas firing in which a woman from Thawai village was hurt.

He further said that none of the villagers were allowed to go out from their houses and the verification work of the villagers were done by going door to door. Pointing out that the villagers were not against  the verification work done by the state government authority if it was done in a right and proper channel, he further added that the State Government authority along with some individuals of the Chadong villages by violating the Guuhati High Court stay order over the matter.

The villager, who did not want to be named further appealed to the state government to take up developmental work with the interest of the peoples living  in the area not just for some funds from the central government but to take up developmental work with a far vision in  public interest with policy programs in a transparent way. He also said that the entire conflict and unrest  in Chadong village is because of the inadequacy of the state government.

Meanwhile speaking to the media,  R Sudhan Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul maintained that the verification work was being done by the state authority in a democratic way as none of the villagers were being forced. When asked by the media  about the imposition of CRPC 144 in Chadong village, he said it waa a measure to curb any untoward incidents in the area and to bring peace.  He also said that the verification work was been carried out from yesterday after the notification were given to the villagers that verification work will be done.