Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, MARCH 21
THE demand to make Tongjei Maril a district has resurfaced in Manipur with the Tongjei Maril District Demand Committee (TMDDC) threatening to launch an indefinite bandh along the Old Cachar Road, also known as Tongjei Maril road, beginning March 25 midnight if their demand is not met by the Manipur government without any further delay.
The Government of Manipur has neglected the genuine demand to carve out a Tongjei Maril district for a long time, TMDDC chairman Abon Kamei said at a press meet at Manipur Press Club here on Monday.
Tongjei Maril was abandoned after the Imphal-Jiribam road and Imphal-Dimapur road opened during the British era. It connects Imphal with Cachar district of Assam via Bishnupur and Tamenglong districts in Manipur.
Kamei said the committee had submitted a memorandum to the then Chief Minister of Manipuir, Wahengbam Nipamacha on July 11, 2011 on this demand. A reminder in this regard was also submitted to the government which gave its assurance to implement it, he added.
Covering an area of 952 sq km, the proposed Tongjei Maril district encompasses as many as 150 different villages located within Lower Lukhambi of Tamenglong in the north, Churanchandpur district’s Tuangtu and Tuiphai, Thanlon-Nungsei Kolhen Chothe Munpi of Henglep subdivision to the south, Senapati district’s Sadar Hills’ New Keithelmanbi and Chini-Inkhol to the east and Imphal East’s Jiribam’s Gularthol and Tousem subdivision’s Kaiphundai to the west.
The demand can be another headache for the Manipur government as the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) and Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) have been agitating on the same demand. But their demands have already attracted stiff opposition from different sections, particularly tribal civil society organisations.
