KIKRUMA — The Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) on Friday accused the Phek district administration of forcibly removing the seal it had placed on the base camp of EPC contractor M/s Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd. at Kikruma earlier in the day.

The development came hours after the CSU sealed the contractor’s base camp at North Kikruma, demanding immediate termination of the firm and re-tendering of the remaining Chakhabama–Kikruma stretch of NH-29 within 72 working hours.

In a statement issued later in the day, the union alleged that the administration’s action amounted to interference in its agitation and questioned why its protest had been stopped.

“Does the administration endorse and encourage the continuous failure of the contractor?” the CSU asked, while also questioning why its “genuine and democratic agitation” had been stopped.

The union stated that it had taken the action after the contractor allegedly failed to complete the project in accordance with the contract agreement and the six-point agreement signed between the CSU, Ratna Infrastructure Projects and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL).

It alleged that despite repeated reminders, assurances and extensions, the contractor had failed to make adequate progress, causing prolonged hardship to the public in the form of dust, mud, damaged roads, accidents and economic losses.

The CSU also held the district administration responsible for what it described as inadequate monitoring of the project, pointing out that the administration heads the Project Monitoring Group for national highways in the district.

The union warned that any further attempt to interfere with its agitation could invite a stronger response. It added that if an “extreme course of action” became necessary, the district administration and other authorities who had allegedly suppressed its protest would be held responsible for any untoward situation arising from public anger.