Woman collapses while narrating eviction woes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 11 2011: An elderly woman venting anguish and helplessness after the State authorities evicted residents of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai collapsed as emotions ran high during a media briefing at Manipur Press Club today.

Seventy-year old Maibam Nganbi, who is among nearly 20 families of the locality to have been ordered to vacate, lost consciousness this afternoon while narrating sufferings of the evicted families.

Moments before collapsing, Nganbi said for the last 50 years her family had been settled at the same site, where the State Government has initiated land acquisition process for setting up NIT and other development programmes.

Contending that the house dismantling drive was launched within a few hours of serving 'notice to vacate', she condemned the inhumane attitude of the SPF Government and charged that in addition to bringing down the houses in a violent manner, household belongings, including beds were taken away by the eviction team.

Nganbi collapsing during the press conference

Stating the she had witnessed office building activities in Lamphel areas the last many decades, Nganbi also questioned as to why ration cards and electors identity card had been issued by the Government if the residents are to be considered as illegitimate occupants.

While Nganbi managed to recover consciousness after first aid treatment, another of her neighbour namely Tongbram Gunadhor claimed that the eviction notice of the SDO, Lamphel and datelined June 3 was pasted on a pillar at around 11 am on June 5 by a team of Lamphel police.

Opining that the eviction drive might have been undertaken with the intention to ensure the residents do not return or rebuild their houses ever for prolonged period, he said apart from irretrievably devastating construction materials, even beds and utensils were taken away.

Gunadhor also informed that Lamphel Yaipha Leikai is covered by Lamshang Assembly Constituency with a total population of about 70 people.

Maintaining that the eviction drive launched with short notice is unjustifiable, he also decried lack of transparency on the side of the Govt on development activities would be taken up at the said site.

With all the construction materials destroyed or taken away the displaced families are presently languishing in a pitiable condition under tarpauline/plastic sheet at the roadside, he added.

Expressing that the Government to provide adequate compensation to all the families as they had been settled for over 50 years, Gunadhor also said in case the eviction drive was launched for development projects the displaced persons should atleast be provided alternative settlement sites.