IMPHAL, June 19: Kuki Students’ Organization today called a press conference at its office this evening regarding the two issues of its office plot issue and Nongbram murder case.
Briefing media persons at the press conference, vice president of the student body said that the KSO General Headquarters in its executive meeting had resolved to pursue conclusive ends to the KSO office plot issue and the Nongbram murder case, in the interest of the student community in particular and the people of the land at large.
He said that “To convey its displeasure over the lackadaisical attitude of state government on the issues of KSO office plot and the Nongbram murder case, the student body has resolved to impose a 48 hour bandh in the state from midnight of June 22 upto June 24 midnight”.
Elaborating on the KSO office plot issue, he said that the issue is a long and protracted one in which the plot of land measuring 100×30 ft at Kabo Leikai near 2nd MR Gate, is intermittently encroached by every purchaser since June 2000, the latest being MDS Director, Y Ningthem.
He continued that on April 30, executive members of the KSO general headquarters inspected the construction activities on the plot of land situated at village No. 2S(A} Kabo Leikai (covered by CS Dag no 692/693) bearing patta No 601 (old), and found out its portion of the plot being encroached.
On further inquiry it has come to our knowledge that the building is meant for a 5 Star hotel purportedly constructed by Director Ningthem, he said.
The KSO sought an audience with Ningthem for discussion but was denied the chance for any meeting, he further alleged.
Nevertheless, the KSO provided mobile contact numbers to the MDS Director in the hope that he may contact the KSO for a formal discussion, he said.
As there was no intimation from him even then, the KSO dispatched a letter imploring him to halt all construction activities until the matter is mutually settled. But all acts of rapprochement on the part of KSO proved to be futile as the construction activities relentlessly continued in complete disregard of KSO`s kind gesture, he alleged.
“As the KSO did not want any ill feelings to develop between the organisation and the Director it approached the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who has complete knowledge of this particular land dispute case, in the hope that something tangible may come out to bring about an amicable solution”.
“But even the efforts of the CM seemed useless as nothing worthy of consideration happened to this day”, he continued.
Therefore, the KSO has resolved to resort to any action as deemed fit in order to draw the attention of all and sundry.
Meanwhile, regarding the Nongbram murder case, he said that two innocent students identified as Paosat Kipgen and Paolenlal Chongloi were allegedly lynched by Nongbram villagers on December 22 in a case of extortion.
“A spot inquiry and investigation by the police had exonerated the two students of the falsified charge after it came to know that the two persons were respectively M.Com student at NEHU and a selected SI aspirant under CPO, with both coming to Bongbal Khullen village for Christmas”.
The ATSUM, KSO, and ANSAM had jointly condemned the killing in the strongest terms and demanded the arrest of the culprits involved in the killing.
The Government of Manipur reciprocated by assuring the three students bodies of necessary action regarding the demands for construction of a Memorial Hall in remembrance of Paosat Kipgen and Paolenlal Chongloi and a government job each to the victims` families.
But the Govt. of Manipur is yet to fulfill the promise and assurance it has given to the families and the three student bodies.
Therefore, it is the resolute stand of the KSO General Headquarters that the Govt. of Manipur should fulfil its promises, he said.