SC's order to protect properties of displaced folks falls flat in Churachandpur
'Permit of Hill Council needed to fence Meitei localities'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 21 2024: A standing order of the Supreme Court to protect properties of internally displaced people has fallen flat in Churachandpur with the district administration allegedly needing the "permission" of the authorities of the "Hill Council" to fence Meitei localities for safeguarding.

This was revealed when Justice UB Saha, Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission visited Churachandpur district Headquarters today for the second time amid the current tension between the Meiteis and the Kukis.

During the visit today, Justice UB Saha found the district administration defying his directive and Supreme Court's order to protect and safeguard colonies and properties of Meiteis who had fled the district in May 2023 .

SC's order to protect properties of displaced folks falls flat in Churachandpur

When the MHRC Chairperson asked the district administration to fence the Meitei colonies for safeguarding, one of the officers allegedly told him that they "need to consult with the authority of Hill Council before erecting the fence" .

Manipur has been reeling under deep turmoil for more than 15 months after violent conflict between the communities broke out on May 3, 2023 .

Justice UB Saha had first visited Churachandpur on August 30, 2023 and inspected localities where Meiteis resided before May 3, 2023 .

During the inspection then, he found Meitei localities and houses completely reduced to rubble and levelled to the ground.

He had then directed the district administration to protect the land and properties from further damage and encroachment so that Meitei residents who had fled could resettle.

Notably, weeks later on September 25, 2023, the Supreme Court had ordered the State Government to ensure the protection of the properties of displaced persons, as well as those which have been destroyed or burnt in the violence, and prevent their encroachment.

Subsequently, the State Government, on October 10, 2023, issued an order asking people not to encroach upon the properties of people who had fled because of the violent conflict.

Citing the September 25, 2023 order of the Supreme Court, the State Government had then warned that anyone usurping or damaging properties of others would face legal action.

The State Government's order issuing stern warning came amid reports of houses being bulldozed, blown up and levelled to the ground in many places including Churachandpur district.

Notably, a video showing a four storey building in Churachandpur being blown up using explosives had gone viral in July this year.

The house reportedly belonged to one Ibomcha, a Meitei man.

Meanwhile, during the visit to Churachandpur today, the MHRC Chairperson inspected Meitei colonies including Tengra Meitei Leikai.

He found damaged Meitei houses and localities in ruins without fences and unprotected from encroachers.

In contravention to the orders of the Supreme Court and the State Government, the MHRC Chairperson found the district administration and the police taking up no effort to protect and safeguard the Meitei localities, land and properties.

This was when he reminded the district administration of his earlier directive and the Supreme Court order to protect properties of the people who had fled the place, and asked the administrative officers to fence the colonies.

To his surprise, one of the district officers then allegedly told the MHRC Chairperson that they "need to consult with the authorities of the Hill Council" to erect fences.

During the visit, Justice UB Saha was accompanied by Inspector General of Police Zone-II Nishit Kumar Ujjwal and Under Secretary, MHRC, Md Ziaur Rahman.

The MHRC Chairperson and his team held a meeting with district administration officers and the district police and members of civil society organisations at the Deputy Commissioner's office.

During the meeting, the Deputy Director of Churachandpur Medical College raised issues regarding shortage of faculties and Professors in the college.

Niangngaihlian, general secretary of Eimi Medicos Union, Churachandpur submitted a petition to the MHRC alleging their inaccessibility to MBBS seats in RIMS, JNIMS & SAHS (Shija Academy of Health Sciences) .

The violent conflict between Meiteis and Kukis has killed over 200 people and displaced nearly 60,000 people.

The violence broke out on May 3, 2023 when protesters taking part in an ATSUM rally turned violent at the border area between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district.

In the afternoon of May 3, 2023, large number of protesters and men armed with assault rifles, suspected to be Kuki militants, vandalised and burnt down houses and shops belonging to Meiteis in several areas including Torbung in Bishnupur district.

The violence then spread to other parts of the State including Imphal in late evening.