Eviction drive runs into stiff resistance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2025: A tense stand-off ensued between security forces and villagers of Khurkhul Moibung Khunou today as Imphal West district administration tried to forcibly evict a community hall, local crematorium and a public toilet of the village.

As per an order issued by the Imphal West district administration, officials escorted by a large number of security forces started dismantling some structures on either side of the Khurkhul River.

The eviction drive soon ran to a stiff opposition as the villagers came out in strength and protested.

In spite of the stiff opposition, the district administration tried to carry on the eviction drive with the help of additional police and RAF (Rapid Action Force) teams.

But this enraged the villagers and it resulted in a tense face off between the villagers and the officials.

However, there was no report of any casualty or untoward incidents.

Khaidem Radharani who voiced strong objection against the eviction drive said that Khurkhul Moibung Khunou is a small village with just around 52 households.

She said that the crematorium, community hall and the public toilet were not built after filling up the river.

"The river was already blocked/filled as we came to know of it", she said.

All the existing infrastructure were built by successive MLAs, she said.

If the existing community hall, crematorium and public toilet must be dismantled, they must be re-built first at alternative sites, Radharani said.

If new community hall, crematorium and public toilet are built first, the villagers have no objection to dismantling the existing crematorium, community hall and public toilet, she said.

The same position of the villagers was conveyed to the officials concerned in black and white soon after the district administration issued the eviction notice, she said.

There is no water current in the Khurkhul River and it has very little water during rainy season.

If the proposed eviction drive is necessary to save the river, the eviction drive must start from its point of origin without any partiality, she added.

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