Evicted victim sells liquor to support family
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Ningthoukhongjam Sanajaoba

Imphal, October 21 2012: "After Manipur Government dismantled my house time and again, I am left with no choice but to sell country made liquor for supporting my family and ailing mother" .

These are the words of 19-year old Tomba (name changed), whose house at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai had been evicted five times by the State government.

Tomba is now staying in a rented room but the trauma over seeing his house dismantled in front of his own eyes continues to haunt him.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Tomba said, "I fear if this room too would be evicted" .

Tomba has managed to pass matric examination but left with no alternative to support his family and ailing mother, he is today selling country made liquor.

Government eviction drive at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai has not only left several people like Tomba homeless but also compelled some of the youth to leave their studies and take up odd jobs like selling of liquor, etc.

"I am very much against what I am doing (selling liquor) right now, but the situation has compelled me to choose it as I am left with no alternative," Tomba said.

Tomba recalled that every moment of June 6 last year continues to haunt him till today.

Lamphel Yaipha Leikai which used to be a thriving colony of human settlement

That day Tomba was returning home from school feeling hungry.

But to his surprise, Tomba saw that all the 14 houses along with his own, which were homes to 97 people at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai in Imphal West district were razed to the ground by police personnel.

As it was monsoon season, they built a makeshift shelter in the area to protect themselves from the pouring rain.

But the following day, a team of police came and dismantled it again.

Later, they built another makeshift tent near the wall of electricity office to spend the nights but that too was also dismantled later on.

Having nowhere to go, the displaced people tried to settle inside the complex of Food processing center.

However, they were driven out from there too.

Later, they tried to settle near the wall of Election Office but were not allowed.

After they were driven out from one place to another, Tomba's mother started experiencing mental trauma.

At first, Tomba tried his luck in state police but was not selected.

Left with no option, he took up many other odd jobs to support his family and ailing mother including payment of room rent which is Rs 500 per month.

But as any other job failed to fulfill his requirement he finally started selling country made liquor.