Frustration and anger growing against militancy in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 14 (ANI): People in Manipur are facing tremendous hardships because of militancy. Various projects in the state, which would have benefited the people, have come to a grinding halt due to the disturbances.

Construction work of the High Court complex at Chingmeirong in Imphal has come to a standstill after militants demanded a huge amount of money.

A strike was recently held to protest against interference in the construction by the High Court Bar Association, Manipur and the All Manipur Bar Association in front of the Guwahati High Court complex.

Among the North Eastern States, maximum numbers of cases registered at Guwahati High Court come from Manipur after Assam. And, the people of Manipur have been facing difficulties due to the absence of a High Court in the State.

Since the construction started, this is the second incident of militants stopping the work.

"We have taken up this sit in protest as an appeal against those wants to stop the construction of high court building at Chingmeirong. This High court building is very essential for the people, for the entire state of Manipur," said Advocate N. Kumarjit Singh, Spokesperson, High Court Bar Association, Manipur

"If there is no High Court building, there is no possibility for having a separate high court of Manipur. If there is no separate high court, there are so many cases remain pending and many litigants are suffering because of this. We know that justice delayed is justice denied. So unless the establishment of separate high court is very much indispensable for the people of Manipur, "said Shyamkeshwor Singh, President, High Court Bar Association, Manipur.

Militants have not spared anyone. Even the cancer treatment department of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has been affected.

RIMS was the first hospital in India to procure the Tele-Cobalt Ray machine state of the art machine, which is the most advanced machine for cancer treatment. However, militant activities have come in the way of the installation of machine.

"The firm supplying the equipment came with a warning that complete installation within three months, there may be a danger of expiring or something going wrong with the equipment. So this is our apprehension, our fear that this state of the art equipment would have benefited a lot of cancer patients of our state but the region may not be able to avail this opportunity and we may lose the equipment," said Dr. L. Fimate, Director, RIMS, Imphal.

With growing number of cancer cases in the state, the central government had approved upgradation of the Regional Cancer Centre of RIMS. And was as a part of this process that the machine that cost over rupees 2.34 crores was delivered to RIMS in June 2008.

However, its installation has been delayed due to militant activities, which is a setback for the state. By Chinglen Laikangbam Singh (ANI)