Frequent locking of MOA office decried

    20-Jan-2025
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 20 : Even as the 38th National Games at Uttarakhand is set to begin from January 28, five student bodies of the State have come out strongly against the repeated locking up of Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) office.
The student organisations include Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kang-leipak (SUK), Democratic Students' Alliance of Mani-pur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpang Lup (AIMS).
Speaking to media persons during a press briefing held in front of MOA office at Khuman Lampak today, Mayengbam Somorjit, spokesperson of the 5 bodies and DESAM president, informed that some individuals identifying them- selves as members of a proscribed outfit locked the office of MOA around 2.30 pm on January 18.
He alleged that they also visited officials of MOA at their residences and threatened them, making it difficult for them to work in peace.
Expressing doubt that a proscribed outfit dedicated to the cause of the land and her people would create problems for an apex body of sports in the State (MOA), he called for a clarification to explain whether the outfit locked the office of MOA or not and to further state their motive if they perpetrated the act.
He said that the Chief Minister should also ensure a conducive environment wherein the operations of MOA can be carried out smoothly. For this, safeguarding the MOA officials is paramount.
The student bodies will lend their support to MOA to facilitate their effective functioning, he added.
Members of the five student organisations were also present at the press briefing.
It may be noted that the five student bodies had previously made an appeal against closure of the MOA office to allow necessary preparations to send State players to participate in the National Games which is less than 10 days away now.