IT News
Imphal, Jan 20:
Five student organizations, including DESM, KSA, SUK, and AIIMS, today condemned the repeated closure of the Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) office by an armed group.
In a joint statement, the student bodies said that the MOA office had been repeatedly locked by an armed group, obstructing the work of MOA staff who are preparing for the 38th National Games scheduled to be held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025. With numerous official tasks at hand for participating in the National Games, the five student organizations had previously requested the armed group on January 5 to lift the ban or closure of the MOA office.
On January 18, 2025, at around 2:30 PM, some individuals claiming to be a member of the RPF/PLA group allegedly entered the MOA office and locked it again. This action has disrupted the functioning of the MOA and its preparations for the games.
The student bodies expressed that they, along with the people of Manipur, are concerned that such actions by the armed group undermine the importance of the MOA, which is the apex body of sports in Manipur. They emphasized the significance of the association’s role in preparing for the National Games in Uttarakhand. The organizations also pointed out that such actions could affect the MOA’s involvement in the games, and they urged the group to stop interfering in the association’s work.
The student groups have called on the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure the MOA office is allowed to function smoothly. They also demanded that proper security be provided to MOA officials to ensure their work is not disrupted by such actions. The organizations reiterated that the closure of the MOA office must end so that preparations for the National Games can continue without further hindrance.