Imphal, October 22: Around 250 persons, including women and children have been rendered homeless following an early morning special eviction drive launched by the State authorities today near Manipur University campus, Canchipur.

The eviction drive also resulted in pulling down constructions of 19 patta holders as well as brief detention of Langthabal assembly constituency MLA O Joy Singh who protested the eviction.

In addition to demanding payment of compensation before the eviction O Joy is also alleged to have charged the MU authorities of instigating the action.

The pattadars also charged that eviction notice was issued only through the media and no intimation had been forwarded to them in person.

The SDPO had given 48 hours time to vacate from unauthorized constructions in the October 19 newspaper notice.

The Imphal West District Magistrate Y Surchandra is informed to have issued another notice yester- day to evict illegal constructions along the NH-39 based on which the eviction was carried out from about 2 am today under the joint supervision of Revenue Commissioner IS Laishram, Imphal West DC Y Surchandra, DIG (Range) Anish Dayal and Imphal West SP S Ibocha.

On being informed of the early morning swoop, O Joy personally arrived at the scene and opposed the eviction as he demanded assessment of worth of the properties and compensation to the victims.

Joy was detained at Imphal police station under order of the District Magistrate before being produced and released at around 4 pm by the First class Magistrate.

Addressing news-persons later in the evening the MPP president highlighted that Manipur University was established through donation of cultivable land and playfields belonging to the local people and he himself had taken active role in shaping the only university of Manipur.

Even though the Manipur Government acquired the land in 1975 neither are the patta holders compensated in the last 29 years nor did the MU authorities raised objections to the new constructions, the MLA said.

Contending that State Revenue Department had been collecting land revenue from the pattadars, O Joy said SPF Govt and MU authorities would be jointly held responsible for destructions of building materials and other household properties.

On blocking the national Highway in connection with the drive, the MLA charged the Govt of flouting procedural norms like issuing prior notice for public information and strict compliance to National Highway Act.

Pointing out technicalities on issuing notice for banning entry of �others involved�, Joy countered as he is a Senate member of MU, the restriction should not cover him as the same order had allowed entry of MU officials and staffs, besides personnel of Revenue Department and security agencies.

Making his trademark argument, Joy also demanded clarification why Minister Md Allaudin and Congress party MLA L Radhakishore, who had also entered the eviction zone, not placed under arrest.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan will be intimated on the matter and legally challenge the state Govt-MU action, he informed.

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