Villagers condemn eviction drive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2016: Villagers of Thanga Sendra Chingkhong have strongly condemned the eviction drive carried out by Government authorities yesterday in Sendra foothills where five persons were reported to have sustained injuries.

It may be recalled that the SDC Moirang issued an order on July 23 asking all the alleged encroachers to dismantle their houses in the foothills and other structures within 10 days but very few structures were dismantled within the given deadline.

A police team surrounded Sendra yesterday to evict the alleged encroachers which resulted in a tense stand-off between the police and the residents.

Villagers of Thanga Sendra Chingkhong condemn eviction drive

Following the incident, a meeting was convened with the MLA of Thanga AC T Mangibabu and residents of Sendra Chingkhong today at Thanga Sendra Community hall where their anguishes and demands were put forth.

T Mangibabu while interacting with mediapersons categorically said that villagers affected by the eviction drive were not the original settlers of Sendra Chingkhong.

They were allowed to settle in the area after the villagers were evicted in 2006 upon agreement with the Chief Minister and local representative.

He further said the eviction drive by a large number of Bishnupur police personnel led by Moirang SDC ten days after issuing a formal notice was a sudden act.

The 'inhumane' eviction drive has hurt the sentiment of the villagers.

Moreover, indiscriminate firing of several rounds of tear gas shells to innocent villagers should have been averted by the police.

A committee will be formed to relocate the affected villagers, he added.

When asked the reason behind the eviction drive, he said that the eviction must have been initiated in tandem with the Chief Minister's vision to transform Sendra into a tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Sendra Youth Club president M Ibosana said the SDO, Moirang ordered the eviction notice on July 23 and two days later, Moirang police came to serve the notice to the villagers.

However, irate locals drove the police away.

Even after the villagers received a 'Stay Order' from the Manipur High Court on the day of eviction, the SDC and SP failed to respect the Court's order, he alleged.

On the other hand, Thanga Moirang Taxi Owners' Society and Thanga Moirang Auto Iris Association jointly held a sit-in-protest at Thanga Ithing parking site denouncing the eviction drive.