Woman resists eviction drive with self-immolation bid
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 12 2016 :
Emotions ran high at Shivnagar in Thoubal district as a woman allegedly tried to immolate herself and her two young kids pouring kerosene on their bodies while a young widow collapsed as the State Govern-ment officials dismantled houses to make space for construction of an integrated mega tourist centre at Khongjom war memorial complex today.
Soon after Government officials arrived at the locality along with JCB earth movers and police, Thongam (O) Ibemcha (37) poured kerosene on her body and her 8-year-old and 5-year-old children in an apparent attempt to immolate themselves.
However, women police personnel present at the area stopped Ibemcha and took her in their custody along with her children.
Later, even as helpless residents of the locality started pulling down their own hou-ses, a woman identified as Thokchom Naobi (28) w/o (L) Tomcha collapsed near her residential gate.
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She was immediately rushed to Thoubal district hospital by police.
Locals said that Shivnagar is a tiny hamlet located near Kheba hill having only five households.
Although people have been residing at Shivnagar since the past 42 years, the families could not acquire land patta due to poverty.
In the evening of March 8, the SDO concerned issued a notice to the residents of Shivnagar to shift to other places by March 11 in connection with the construction of an integrated mega tourist complex there.
Despite the notice the residents could not shift within the stipulated time as the Government did not provide any compensation and rehabilitation arrangements, they said.
They further said that although the number of house- holds is only five, many of the households are joint families with mutltiple brothers and their wives and children living together.
They further said that MLA Paonam Brojen had once promised them to provide aid from his side.
However, no such assistance has been provided till date, they said.
Now all of them have been evicted, they would be compelled to stay in the open space like animals, they lamented.
The helpless locals also urged the Government to rehabilitate them considering their inconvenience.