Municipal bodies protest intervention by militants

Imphal, April 21 (UNI) Members of the All Manipur Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats Joint Action Committee have decided to resign by April 28 and began phase-wise agitations throughout the state, demanding to begin intervention by militants.

''The militants in Manipur are putting heavy pressure on the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by demanding huge amounts of money, which cannot be borne by them,'' Ms O Bimola, Secretary of All Manipur Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayat Joint Action Committee said today.

The militants have shut down the Municipal Council office of Nambol in Bishenpur district and declared that they would remain so until their demands were met.

In fact, the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayats of Manipur are unable to carry out their normal duties for the welfare of the Municipalities or Nagar Panchayats concerned due to pressure from the militants.

The ULBs have declared to go on phase-wise protests against the militants until they stopped pressurising them for money.

In their first phase, they went on a sit-in protest on April 15 at Keishampat Junction, Imphal, which continued at Bishnupur Bazar, Mayang Imphal Bazar, Thoubal Bazar and Lamlai Bazar. Sit-in protests were also staged on the fifth day yesterday at Lamlai Bazar.

In the next phase, the ULB offices will be closed to begin a pen down strike for five days from tomorrow, Ms Bimola.

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