Cong appeals for peace, calm

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 2 : After a deadly clash over a land dispute broke out between Hungpung and Ukhrul/Hunphun that killed three persons and injured at least 40, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has appealed for peace and calm.
Addressing a press conference held at Congress Bhavan, Imphal, MPCC president MLA K Meghachandra said the incident at Ukhrul was very unfortunate, and urged members of both the villages to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of the violence.
Notably, a violent confrontation involving exchange of fire broke out between villagers of Hungpung (Hundung) and Hunphun (Ukhrul) at Thingrasa area at around 10.30 am today
The clash triggered by a cleanliness drive at the disputed land killed three persons including a personnel of the 6th Manipur Rifles and injured at least 40 people.
Speaking to reporters at Congress Bhavan, MPCC president K Meghachandra said the violent clash was unfortunate especially when today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi which is celebrated as Non-Violence Day.
Meghachandra, however, asserted that the district administration and the State Home Department may have ignored and allowed the tension to prevail that was already there from yesterday in connection with the planned Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at the disputed land.
The planned cleanliness campaign was met with opposition and tension was already there over it. The district administration must be fully aware of the situation.
However, the district administration and the State Home Department seemed to have ignored the situation, he said.
The State Government must answer why it ignored the situation on the ground that was there since yesterday, he added.
When Manipur is already burning [as a result of the conflict between communities], why has the Government failed to prevent another violent clash, he asked.
The State Government must immediately curb the violence and resolve the issue in Ukhrul, he said while appealing to the people of both the villages in Ukhrul to exercise restraint and remain calm.