New Samtal Road
Villagers grateful for good road than anything else!
Changjal (Chandel), Dec 6: Even if there was no problem in connection with the presence of UGs in their villages, proper repairing of the deplorable condition of the roads along with the arrival of the army is something that the people of villages seem to cherish the most.
Talking to a team of mediapersons from Imphal who were facilitated to go by the IGAR (South) upto Tuitung along the New Samtal Road in Chandel district where army operation is underway to flush out militants, the villagers of the areas, which were earlier considered the stronghold of the UNLF said that there was no instances of torture and atrocity committed by the UNLF cadres while they staying in their villages.
The Chief and the villagers of Selon village, where the UGs had even set up bunkers, said instead of harassing the villagers, the UGs brought food and other essential commodities for the people apart from taking care of their medical needs.
As to the allegation of planting landmines along the road to prevent army from entering, the villagers said that they were informed about the places where the landmines have been planted and advice given not to walk in such places.
It was only those people who do not know about the landmines or cattles that strayed into such areas that were killed in the landmine explosions, the villager said.
Inaugurated in 1990 by the then Governor of Manipur Chintamani Panigrahi, the New Samtal Road had been rendered useless for over 10 years due to alleged planting of landmines by the UGs.
But after the army removed the landmines and repaired the road by using bulldozers, the road has been reopened again much to the satisfaction of the people of Selon, Chaljang, Phoilen, etc.
In fact, the condition of the road connecting Chamol to New Samtal which had not been used not long after its inauguration is even better than that of the Imphal-Moreh Road.
Before repairing of the road, for coming to Imphal the people of these area have to go to Moreh first after crossing through the border areas of Myanmar from New Samtal side facing lot of difficulties and spending huge amount of money.
Decrying the negligence of the State Government, the villagers said that there is no sign of any Government machinery at work in the area.
It has also been very long that no elected MLAs ever come to the villages, they said, adding that for buying and marketing any product, they go to markets in Myanmar.
However, when asked whether they would prefer to join Myanmar instead of Manipur since they are depending everything on Myanmar for livelihood, the villagers said that ' they are born as Manipuri and would remain as Manipuri'.
Interacting with the media team, Brig Remond Noronha, Commander of 26 Sector Assam Rifles under whose command the Samtal Operation is being launched under the aegis of IGAR (South), said that along with flushing out UNLF cadre before coming Christmas, the road repairing work would be stepped up.
Source: The Sangai Express
Changjal (Chandel), Dec 6: Even if there was no problem in connection with the presence of UGs in their villages, proper repairing of the deplorable condition of the roads along with the arrival of the army is something that the people of villages seem to cherish the most.
Talking to a team of mediapersons from Imphal who were facilitated to go by the IGAR (South) upto Tuitung along the New Samtal Road in Chandel district where army operation is underway to flush out militants, the villagers of the areas, which were earlier considered the stronghold of the UNLF said that there was no instances of torture and atrocity committed by the UNLF cadres while they staying in their villages.
The Chief and the villagers of Selon village, where the UGs had even set up bunkers, said instead of harassing the villagers, the UGs brought food and other essential commodities for the people apart from taking care of their medical needs.
As to the allegation of planting landmines along the road to prevent army from entering, the villagers said that they were informed about the places where the landmines have been planted and advice given not to walk in such places.
It was only those people who do not know about the landmines or cattles that strayed into such areas that were killed in the landmine explosions, the villager said.
Inaugurated in 1990 by the then Governor of Manipur Chintamani Panigrahi, the New Samtal Road had been rendered useless for over 10 years due to alleged planting of landmines by the UGs.
But after the army removed the landmines and repaired the road by using bulldozers, the road has been reopened again much to the satisfaction of the people of Selon, Chaljang, Phoilen, etc.
In fact, the condition of the road connecting Chamol to New Samtal which had not been used not long after its inauguration is even better than that of the Imphal-Moreh Road.
Before repairing of the road, for coming to Imphal the people of these area have to go to Moreh first after crossing through the border areas of Myanmar from New Samtal side facing lot of difficulties and spending huge amount of money.
Decrying the negligence of the State Government, the villagers said that there is no sign of any Government machinery at work in the area.
It has also been very long that no elected MLAs ever come to the villages, they said, adding that for buying and marketing any product, they go to markets in Myanmar.
However, when asked whether they would prefer to join Myanmar instead of Manipur since they are depending everything on Myanmar for livelihood, the villagers said that ' they are born as Manipuri and would remain as Manipuri'.
Interacting with the media team, Brig Remond Noronha, Commander of 26 Sector Assam Rifles under whose command the Samtal Operation is being launched under the aegis of IGAR (South), said that along with flushing out UNLF cadre before coming Christmas, the road repairing work would be stepped up.
Source: The Sangai Express