Manipur, IMPHAL, August 23: An FIR has been filed against more than 20 persons in connection with the public protests at Nungba against Public Hearing on Oil exploration and drilling on August 17.
The FIR was filed by the Manipur Police at the Nungba Police Station, Tamenglong District of Manipur with no. 23/8/2012 under Sections 148/149/341/353/506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860.
The proposed August 17 public hearing on oil exploration and drilling organized by the Manipur Pollution Control Board at the Nungba Town Community hall was postponed indefinitely after locals and students disrupted the venue just as the hearing was about to start.
Prior to the August 17 public hearing, the Committee on Protection of Natural Resources Manipur, CPNRM had organized a public consultation on petroleum exploration in Manipur at the Nungba town community hall on August 16 and resolved to oppose the public hearing of August 17.
During the public consultation, it was affirmed by the participants that the land and resources in Tamenglong, Churanchandpur and Jiribam belong to the indigenous peoples of Manipur and that any development initiatives affecting the land and resources should be with full recognition of the peoples’ rights over the land and resources and prior informed consent.
