Hunger Strike in Silchar Against Tipaimukh Dam

Silchar, Dec 30 : Members of CPI (ML) and other organizations on Thursday observed a 12-hour hunger strike in Silchar in protest against the pre-dawn police crackdown on anti-dam activists on Ranganadi Bridge when they were opposing construction of big dams, including the Lower Subansiri hydro-electric project at Gerukamukh and Tipaimukh project on the Barak River.

Hundreds of protesters sat on a 12-hour hunger-strike in front of the office of the CPI (ML) district committee at Trunk Road locality of the town in the morning. They raised slogans against the police action and demanded that big dams projects should be stopped for the sake of human, economic and environmental interests.

CPI (ML) Cachar district secretary Haidar Hussain Chaudhary said they have full support of activists and organizations, including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), which is opposing the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri hydro-electric project at Gerukamukh along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Haidar said they will launch a similar agitation if the government doesn't stop construction of the Lower Subansiri project, he said.

The CPI (ML) leader said they have also been opposing the proposed 1500-MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric project in Manipur bordering Assam and Mizoram. The project will bring about a catastrophe in the Barak Valley areas of Assam and parts of Manipur where tribals stay in large numbers. It will also affect people Sylhet division of Bangladesh, he added.