Residents of Thinungei in Bishnupur district blocking NH-150 in protest against setting up bird sanctuary in their area on Saturday. (NNN Photo)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 16
Several people including women were injured as police used tear gas, shells and mock bombs against protestors enforcing a road blockade on a national highway in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Saturday.
A large number of residents of Thinungei and its adjoining areas, opposing declaration of Thinungei side of Loktak Lake as a bird sanctuary by the state government of Manipur, came out on the street along Imphal-Churachandpur section of NH-150 and enforced the blockade from early Saturday morning.
Officials of Bishnupur district police who rushed to the spot attempted to convince the protestors to open the road considering the plights of the commuters around 10 am.
Later, Police resorted to firing the tear gas shells and mock bombs as the protestors continued their stir of blocking the road. The protestors also confronted with the police. In the police action, injuries were inflicted to several protestors including women. Five of them who sustained serious injuries were rushed to Bishnupur district hospital. A hospital source stated their conditions out of danger.
The police action happened to add fuel to the burning fire as instead of retreating, the residents intensified their stir by stretching ropes hanging old and unused women clothing. The protestors calmed down only after local MLA L Radhakisohre who came to the spot convinced the protestors with an assurance of bringing up the matter with the state Forest and Environment minister.
While convincing the protestors, the MLA fixed the date for a meeting between the Forest and Environment minister and representatives of the Joint Action Committee under which people were agitating on February 16. Following the assurance, the protestors suspended their road blockade stir immediately and normalcy traffic returned on the road at around 11 am.
On January 3 last, the Manipur government declared Thinungei side of Loktak Lake, where migratory birds take shelter during winter, as a bird sanctuary. It has been named “Thinungei Bird Sanctuary.” The bird sanctuary covers an area of 103.10 hectares. Loktak Lake is a Ramsar site and Manipur is located on the route of Asian migratory flyway of birds.
Opposing the declaration of their area as bird sanctuary, residents of Thinungei and other affected villages formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) and has been pressing the the Manipur government to revoke the government order. While strongly opposing the declaration, the affected villagers said that the areas located at eastern side of Thinungei adjoining to Loktak Lake comprises of swampy, floating biomass and open water body and therefore, maximum population of the region solely depend on this lake for their survival.
The setting up of sanctuary is a great threat to them, said a leader of the JAC while asking which one was more important concern, either to save birds or to save the people of the area from starvation. He further said that the area does not have enough arable land, "so setting up of sanctuary without taking the consent of fishermen was just like snatching away our livelihood". He then asked the state government whether only the officials of forest department and wildlife activists can conserve the birds without the supports of the people of the site.
Reaffirming the stand of the affected people, the leader said that they will continue with protest until and unless state government revokes the order declaring their area as bird sanctuary.
