Irate locals hold rally protesting non-construction of road, many hurt in police action

Our Correspondent
THOUBAL, Oct 27 : Irate locals of Salungpham took out a rally today protesting against non-construction of Salungpham road which has been lying in dilapidated condition since many years.
The protesters also shouted slogans against the negligence on the part of the authorities concerned. Demanding the Salungpham area be excluded from the Heirok Kendra, the protesters also warned intending candidates not to further lure the voters of the area only in poll times. Placards demanding the earliest construction of the road were also displayed.
The rally organised by conglomerate bodies of local clubs, United Club Organisation, was taken off from Salungpham Mathak Leikai Panthoibi Bazar but was intercepted by a team of Heirok police when they reached Salungpham Maning Leikai Ngatensoi Thong with a statement that Section 144 of CrPC has been enforced in the area.
However, the protest rally continued till intervening areas of Salungpham and Kairenbikhok before the road was excavated using JCB excavators.
The police later attempted to arrest the members of the organising body and seized the JCB used in excavating, but the bid was foiled due to an uproar from the public who also voiced not to enter the Salungpham village.
To control the situation and disperse the gathering, police fired several rounds of tear gas shells.
Many locals were reportedly injured due to police firing.
UCOs president, Phuritsabam Braja, in connection with the rally, said that the authorities concerned had been ignoring their call to construct the only road connecting the Salungpham village in Heirok AC despite repeated representations, meetings and sit-ins.
Many have been injured and many including old and pregnant women have faced complications  due to poor condition of the road, he continued while adding that no change has been witnessed in the area for years.
With the growing population and need of the village is also rapidly increasing but the State Government has failed to provide proper roads, requisite education, water supply and medical facilities, he continued.
With the people of Salungpham falling prey to cheap freebies during poll times, the villages have not been able to see any development, he said while urging authorities concerned to initiate construction work of the road within 5 days.