Eviction drive at Lei Ingkhol - Vested interest at work : EARDC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 04 2014 :
Eviction Affected Rehabilitation cum Development Committee (EARDC) of Lei Ingkhol has claimed that yesterday's eviction drive carried out by the Government was a fallout of an unnecessary complaint lodged at the High Court of Manipur by some vested interest individuals.
Speaking at a press conference, committee secretary S Nilachandra Sharma said that the protest to save Lei Ingkhol area from eviction was started in 2004-05 .
Ever since the Government issued a notice to the residents to vacate the area, they resorted to different forms of agitation in the forms of rallies and hunger strikes with support from different civil society organisations, he added.
Following these intense agitations, the Government came to an understanding with the committee to rehabilitate the affected families by identifying the genuine households through a survey, he added.
Saying that 110 families were identified for rehabilitation in the survey, S Nilachandra said that the Government also agreed not to evict them until these families are fully rehabilitated.
However, the Government suddenly carried out an eviction drive as some individuals, who have already got land compensation, wrongfully claimed land ownership by lodging a complaint at the High Court of Manipur using 'fake' pattas, he alleged.
Saying that the Court has rejected this complaint, he added that it was unfortunate that some innocent residents had to face a sudden eviction due to this complaint though the Government had agreed in July this year not to evict them until they are fully rehabilitated.
S Nilachandra further claimed that Laikhuram Bhogen, who tried to immolate himself yesterday, is not a resident of Lei Ingkhol but stays in a rented house.