Kom Community on Relay Hunger Strike to Protest Denial of Voting Rights

Imphal, Jun 22 : Joint Action Committee (JAC) against discrimination of Kom Community in Exercising Their Voting Rights, at 20/Sagang ADC Constituency, Churachandpur district, which started on June 15, continued today.

The JAC is protesting against the alleged act of supporters of an Independent Candidate Tongminthang Lhungdim, who blocked the roads with the help of unknown militants, thereby preventing voters belonging to Kom tribe from casting their votes at both the polling stations of Dampi and Saiton Khullen during re-poll of the 20/Sagang ADC Constituency, Churachandpur district, on May 31.

''The relay hunger strike will continue and if the authority concerned fails to order enquiry and re-poll of the said polling stations the Kom villagers within the 20 Sagang ADC Constituency shall start non-cooperation movement against the Government of Manipur, including boycott of the ongoing Census 2010,'' Thakpu Kom, Secretary of the JAC, said.

The JAC also condemned the forcible taking of signatures of Kom voters saying that they had cast their votes at the Saiton Khullen polling station.

''The Government of Manipur will be responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the proposed non-cooperation movement,'' it was warned.

''The decision for the proposed non-cooperation movement has been taken as the state government and the State Election Commission have not taken any steps towards fulfilling the demands of the JAC even after the intervention of the Governor of Manipur on the said matter,'' Thakpu Kom added.