NPF, ATSUM flay vacate order
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, May 18 2013 : An order from the state government was issued today (Saturday) asking the residents of Naga River Colony in Imphal to vacate by May 19 (Sunday).

The government of Manipur is planning to construct a five-star hotel in the area.

Registering their resentments to this development, All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and Naga Peoples' Front (NPF), Manipur State said the time given to the families of the Naga River Colony by the government to vacate is to short a period.

NPF, Manipur State secretary Athuan Abonmai said the move of the state government hurts sentiments of the Christian community.

"Sunday is the day when Christians have special programmes.

Asking the Christians to vacate on Sunday by the state government amounts to desrespecting the Christians which in turn destroy the very principle of secularism, the main feature of Indian democracy," pointed out Athuan.

The NPF leader however said the state government should give atleast 15 days time or more to the residents to vacate from the colony.

According to Athuan Abonmai the Naga River Colony houses three churches.

Echoing similar sentiment, ATSUM said giving just one day for Naga River Colony residents to vacate, who have been residing in the area by many of them for the last 50 years, is inhuman.

The tribal students' body of Manipur said the step of the state government to vacate within a day is cruel which should be voiced against the order by all right thinking people.

"Leniency should be given to the residents by the government by giving atleast 15 days' time to vacate," said ATSUM.

It can be recalled here that on Friday, several social organizations condemned Manipur Government for deploying police personnel to forcefully evict residents of Naga River Lane, also known as Kabo Leikai here.

Against the backdrop of the Gauhati High Court verdict for status quo maintenance over the land dispute between the Government of Manipur and residents of Naga River Lane, the state Government is rearing its ugly head in the form of most brutal tyranny, said a joint release from the Tribal Youth Council, Manipur, Naga Women Union, Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Imphal, Rongmei Lu Phaum and Imphal Tangkhul Shanao Long.

It had maintained that the Naga River Lane is originally settled by tribal people who were eventually issued with plot allotment certificates (pattas) by the Government of Manipur and said that now the Government is deploying police personnel to vacate the peacefully and helpless residents of the locality.

The NGOs also alleged that in a probable act of conspiracy, house of six non-tribal had been pulled down and then the remaining tribal residents in the locality have been intimidated by the Government to vacate immediately informing that a 5-star hotel is being constructed in the area.

Calling the attitude of the Government 'self-contradictory,' the press release had also alleged that upholding of communal hatred and sectarian advocacy and religious intolerance can be seen in the move of the Government.

It said there are three churches, a theological college and a graveyard in the proposed site for the 5-star hotel.

Condemning the step of the Government, the release further said that the NGOs are going to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) in this connection to seek justice before the Supreme Court and to appeal to the national and international human rights bodies.

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