Lamphel residents protest eviction drive
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2011:
Residents of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai, near the Employment Exchange office, today staged sit-in-protest against the recent eviction drive launched by the Government.
speaking to some newspersons at the protest site, 70-year old M Nganbi claimed that the locals on June 5 spotted an eviction notice pasted at an electric pole directing Lamphel Yaipha Leikai residents to dismantle houses and move away within 5 pm of the same day.
As most of the residents had gone for work the instruction could not be promptly complied with, she conceded and added that at about 7 am the next day all 14 houses were dismantled by a JCB.
Other protestors, who also chipped in contended that apart from the destruction caused to their homes, security force personnel who accompanied the eviction team took away household goods and construction materials.
Condemning the sudden eviction drive as inhuman, they also conveyed that the eviction drive effected livelihood of more than 70 persons.
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It is informed that during a recent inspection visit by the Chief Minister in connection with construction of NIT complex as well as preservation of the Lamphelpat water body O Ibobi Singh gestured to officials accompanying him to launch eviction drive against illegal occupants at the earliest.
Questioning on what condition other neighbourhoods were left untouched, the protestors demanded that the State authorities be precise on the land requirement for setting up the NIT or water body.
Silence of Lamsang and Uripok assembly constituencies' MLAs also evoked strong criticism from the protestors.