Several villagers, including village chiefs, womenfolk, youths, and civil body leaders of Kangpokpi district in Manipur gathered at L Mangjol village in the foothills of Mt Koubru on Tuesday morning and confronted police personnel who came to climb up the hill.
Village chiefs, womenfolk, youths, SAHILCA leaders and various civil body leaders were seen confronting security personnel at L Mangjol village and stopped them from entering further and climbing the peak on Tuesday.
Long discussion was held at a meeting in the presence of ADGP, DIG Range IV, SP Kangpokpi, addl.SP (Ops) Kangpokpi, addl.SP (LO) Kangpokpi, conservator of forest and DFO Kangpokpi. However, the meeting failed to arrive at a solution to resolve the contentious issue over Mt Koubru.
Meanwhile, despite the reported closure of all entry points, some people were seen coming down from the peak while some were seen climbing the peak without any restriction.
It is reported the police personnel who retreated from L Mangjol were stationed at Songpijang village below L Mangjol. Volunteers confronting the police personnel were also seen blocking the road to Mt Koubru at L Mangjol till late in the evening.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, advisor, advisor of the Committee Tongmang Haokip said the entry points of Mt Koubru were closed down with the intention to get response from the government, but it was ignored and security forces were deployed at the peak to conduct the survey.
He said, “The police officials told us that they have come following the closure of entry points of Mt Koubru as published in various newspapers.”
He asserted that the problems cannot be solved by any form of coercion but by negotiation which the state government ignored till today.
He said considering the necessity of protecting and preserving Mt Koubru, the Committee was formed in 2018.
The proposed construction of religious structure was immediately stopped by the Committee as no religious structure for one particular religion can be constructed at the peak, he added.
He said that after such written objections, the government was expected to invite them for negotiation but sent out a survey team to earmark certain areas of the peak for culture and heritage centre.
A joint meeting of all village chiefs in Saitu Gamphazol, Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru, SAHILCA and civil bodies were held at Saitu.
The Committee under the mandate of Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi and civil bodies had announced closure of all entry points of Mt Koubru until the state government gives a response as to why they continue survey of Mt Koubru despite formal objections submitted to the state government.
