The Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) has stated that some gun-toting miscreants unloaded rations allocated for Tamenglong and other hill districts from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown Sangaiprou, Imphal on Tuesday.
Taking serious note of the issue, RNCM, in consultation with all its concerned federal units, has given an ultimatum of 24 hours, with effect from 12:00 noon, March 19, to the concerned authority to station the allocated FCI ration at the designated place; failing which, it warned, the people should resort to mass agitation howsoever deemed fit necessary.
Expressing concern and denouncing the incident, the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) alleged that the ration allocated for the hill districts was forcefully unloaded by some gun-toting miscreant and reportedly mishandled the staff on duty. The quota entitled to every bonafide citizen is a legal right guaranteed under the Food Security Act, and no group or individual or authority howsoever should have the right to come on the way against the system of delivering justice, it said.
"Such irresponsible act directed against some communities might possibly lead to a more complicated situation when the system is extremely vulnerable, being susceptible to inter-communal conflict at the slightest provocation," Rongmei body said, adding that the backlog of 2023 and the delay of the distribution for the year 2024, including the honorarium since 2020, have been duly acknowledged on several occasion to the concerned authorities.
However, it alleged, the interest of the public was not resolved till date despite assurance given by the concerned representatives of the people, who should take responsibility to that end.
The concerned federal units of RNCM include Luangrians, Rongmei Naga Students' Organisation Manipur, Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation Manipur, RNLPM and other hill area-based CSOs. It also directed RNSOM to coordinate with Rongmei Naga Youth Manipur to investigate the matter and report the subsequent development thereafter to the Central Committee for further action.
A Facebook page with the name 'Ruangmei' today shared a video clip of the food grains being unloaded from a vehicle on Tuesday noon. The video caption says, “Right now there is a problem at FCI godown. A few armed Meiteis came and said that no food grains should be transported to Tamenglong district and other hill districts. The food grains which were already loaded in the vehicles are unloaded again.“
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
