Plan for Army camp runs into Sekmai wall

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 13

People of different communities settled around Sekmai area staged a sit-in protest today against setting up of an army camp at the paddy land of Sekmai area. The sit-in was organised by the Sekmai Protection Committee (SPC) and Awang Sekmai Scheduled Caste Development Committee (ASSCDC).

Later, a rally was taken out till Sekmai SDO office shouting slogan “Sekmai ge Loukol armyda piba yaroy (paddy land cannot be given away to the army)”

Speaking to media persons, SPC president, Angom Rajesh said that the army camp located at Leimakhong Military Station, Koreingei Air Field and Pallel Air Field at Kakching are trying to reset their camp at the paddy field located at Sekmai, Khurkhul, Kaingam and Kanto area covering 1800 acres.

Following an application to the Imphal West district commissioner by the Indian army on July 7, 2017 a survey was conducted by Sekmai sub-deputy collector (SDC) at the paddy land of those areas, he added.

The survey report submitted to the deputy commissioner said 900 acres of land is available to set up the army camp, continued the president.

ASSCDC president, Laimayum Kula Singh supplemented that they will not sell even a small land even though the government offers good price for the land as the paddy land are the livelihood of the people settling around Sekmai area.

The people of Sekmai area appealed to the government not to let the army set up their camp at the paddy land of Sekmai area.

They further said that if the government tries to invent the paddy land of Sekmai area by force, the people of Sekami will fight against it by all means.

The SPC and ASSCDC have announced that the people of Sekmai area should not use their paddy field for any other purpose other than farming.