Our Correspondent
Imphal | March 21
Tongjei Maril District Demand Committee (TMDDC) has on Monday threatened to launch an indefinite bandh along the Old Cachar Road, also known as Tongjei Maril if their long-pending demand is not fulfilled at an earliest. TMDDC chairman Abon Kamei told a press meet at the Press Club here that their demand for creation of a Tongjei Maril district was legitimate and said the government had given the assurance a long time ago.
He said the committee would impose an indefinite bandh along the route beginning March 25 midnight in the event of failure of the Government of Manipur to take immediate steps to grant creation of the proposed district at the earliest.
Tongjei Maril connects Imphal with Cachar district of Assam via Bishnupur and Tamenglong districts of Manipur.
On July 11, 2011, the committee submitted a memorandum to the then Chief Minister of Manipur, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh to push for their demands and also a reminder of the same memo on August 30 the same year, Kamei recalled.
The projected new district encompasses an area of 952 sq km 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, comprising of 150 villages.
Controversies have already developed over demand for conversion of Jiribam and Sadar Hills under Senapati district into full-fledged revenue districts. Several tribal social organisations have shown stiff opposition to the two demands.
