Newmai News Network
Senapati | May 19
After the expiry of the 48-hour ultimatum served to the Manipur government for the suspension of the deputy commissioner of Senapati district at 6 pm on Tuesday, May 19, the civil society organizations of the district have extended the deadline by 24 hours for their demand to be fulfilled by the State government.
Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati District Women Association (SDWA) and Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) warned of imposing indefinite economic blockade on the National Highway-2 after the 24-hour deadline if the State government of Manipur fails to meet the demand.
A joint press statement of NPO, SDWA and SDSA said that they will impose “indefinite economic blockade” along National Highway-2 with effect from 6 pm of May 20 if the state government “fails to meet our demand within the 24-hour deadline”.
On May 17, the civil society organizations of Senapati district had served the 48-hour ultimatum to the State Government of Manipur to suspend deputy commissioner of the district, Somorjit Salam, from his service for allegedly flouting the COVID-19 protocols.
NPO, SDWA and SDSA accused the deputy commissioner of flouting the COVID-19 and quarantine protocols on May 13 when the officer allegedly permitted an Imphal bound bus carrying 36 stranded people who were returning from outside Manipur during “no entry hours” to pass from Mao Gate through Senapati district. The ultimatum also alleged that, “the deputy commissioner, in utter negligence and endangering many lives, allowed the incoming passengers to halt and then the officer hosted a dinner for the night on May 13 at Multi-Purpose Hall, a non designated quarantine centre located near the DC Complex of Senapati district headquarters.” The ultimatum also mentioned that the residents of the DC Office Complex neighbourhood “have expressed their concerns.”
According to the ultimatum, the passengers had left the Senapati town in the morning of May 14 “leaving a trail of serious health concerns” as two of the 36 passengers were tested positive for COVID-19 on May 16.
After holding another meeting on May 19, the civil society organizations of Senapati districts issued the joint press release saying that, as the 48-hour ultimatum served to state government of Manipur demanding immediate suspension of Senapati deputy commissioner Samorjit Salam, which came into effect from 6 pm of May 17 and expired at 6 pm of 19 May “with no action being taken up to meet our demand”, the Naga People’s Organisation, Senapati District Students’ Association and Senapati District Women Association, “on behalf of the general public, have given the Manipur Government another 24 hours to fulfill our demand with effect from 6 pm of May 19”.
The statement then said that this decision was taken in the emergency consultative meeting of the civil society organisations held today at Senapati district headquarters “being aggrieved by the utter negligence and failure on the part of the state government”.
The statement then said that the organisations are not against the State Government of Manipur, but to demand justice of the general public of Senapati "as deputy commissioner Samorjit Salam had violated COVID-19 quarantine protocols on the May 13 by giving safe passage to 36 returnees coming from outside the state during “no entry hour” at Mao Gate, and hosted them at Multi-Purpose Hall (non-designated quarantine centre), Senapati town putting thousands of lives of Senapati district at great risk”.
The organizations then appealed the general public to extend “utmost support in the fight for justice, and to remain indoors and avoid violating lockdown protocols”.
