Locals protest Lei-ingkhol takeover by Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 19 2012:
Residents of Lei-Ingkhol near Chingmeirong have strongly opposed the proposed move by the State Government to acquire residential pockets located in and around the newly constructed High Court complex.
Consequent to the land acquisition initiative of the State Government an official team led by Imphal East district's Deputy Commissioner showed up at Lei-ingkhol at around 9.30 am today.
Armed with a 'map' that marked the said residential areas as Government property, the official team reportedly commenced drawing 'red line' which triggered vehement protest from the residents.
The official team was also accompanied by an SDO and representatives of the high Court administration.
Denouncing the latest move of the State Government, some of the locals claimed that State and Central leaders including Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi had assured to maintain status quo at the area.
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While bandhs and strikes were observed to oppose move of the Government in the recent past the surprise visit of the official team today and asking the residents to vacate is strongly condemnable, commented some of the locals who affirmed that they would continue to oppose all attempts to root them out of their homes.
Contending that many individuals have already lost their land and invaluable properties due to development of the Capital Project in Chingmeirong and surrounding areas, they also questioned wisdom of the Government to develop garden, swimming pool, construct a mini secretariat complex and staff quarters by evicting hundreds of families who had been living at Lei-ingkhol area for nearly six decades.
Conveying that most of the residents of Lei-ingkhol are families of leprosy patients and has a mixed population of tribals, Nepali, Bihari, Meitei and bengali groups apart from nearly 700-strong voters, they affirmed that without an alternative arrangement first no further attempt should be made to evict them.
In case of failure to grasp the sentiment of the locals intense movement would be launched against the Government, cautioned the peeved residents.
It is also informed that a meeting was held under the joint aegis of the local meira paibis, JAC Against Eviction of Lei-ingkhol and Lei-ingkhol Youth Development Organisation during which decision was taken to condemn the acquisition movement as well as resort to various forms of agitation to protect the residential pocket.
On being informed, MLA Y Erabot of Wangkhei AC, under which Lei-ingkhol also falls, reportedly arrived and discussed the matter with the locals.
The MLA is said to have not ruled out the possibility of taking legal assistance to defy the State Government's move.