The subdivisional officer of Chakpikarong along with the representatives of Kuki Inpi and village chief of K Molnom village on Sunday resolved to halt the unauthorised construction of RCC bridge at K Molnom village over the Manipur River in Chandel district.
A team headed by SDO of Chakpikarong, Md Tajuddin, accompanied by state forces, attempted to reach the construction site. However, their efforts were thwarted as Kuki women barricaded the access route with wooden logs, preventing the team from reaching the work site. Consequently, the team was compelled to retreat from the site at 7.30 pm on Saturday.
Despite the setback, the same team made a subsequent attempt to reach the work site on Sunday, around 11.30 am. While enroute, about 2 kilometers away from the work site, the team headed by SDO, engaged in dialogue with the village chief of K Molnom Village Thongkholal Haokip and Kuki Inpi Lhun Haokip at U Thingkangphai.
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During the discussion, the SDO warned that if the construction is continued, they would be obliged to intervene forcibly. However, the village chief stated that the construction had already been halted.
The team insisted on visiting the work site to confirm that the construction was indeed halted, and they would only depart after witnessing the construction site.
Following the resolution reached between both parties, SDO Chakpikarong Md Tajuddin, additional superintendent (Ops) Chandel Ts. Chaman Anal, Officer In Charge of Waikhong Police Station Md Jakaur Rahaman, inspector CDO of Sugnu Police Station Parlung Athur, and village chief Thongkholal Haokip visited the work site together. However, no construction activity was observed at the site upon arrival.
However, the team found that five-six pillars were already erected from the river bed. The team has decided to monitor the work site using drone surveillance, despite their observation of no ongoing construction activity at the site, as per sources.
The team headed by SDO retreated from the spot at around 4:30 pm. Additional security forces of Chandel and Kakching districts were also deployed across various areas throughout the visit.
