Eviction drive in three Manipur villages; villagers condemn

IMPHAL, August 7: The villagers of Thanga Ething Sendra have strongly condemned the eviction drive initiated by the Government authorities of Manipur.
Thanga, Ething and Sendra are the villages which are dotting around the Loktak, the largest lake in the region.
Demanding the immediate rehabilitation and resettlement, Moirangthem Maipakpi(60) speaking to media said, “The government should extend necessary help on time by providing the alternative arrangements.”
How long we can stay in the relief centres?, she asked and alleged that the eviction order was made available to the villagers.
Sharing a similar sentiment, another affected villager P Memi Devi who broke down during the media interaction at Manipur Press Club here, also demanded immediate help from the government for injured persons who are presently hospitalized in some private health centres, besides taking action against the SDC Moirang for issuing eviction order on July 23.
“The area where the eviction takes place is said to be under the CrPC 144 which prohibits gathering of public.
However the notice was not made available to the villagers,” another villager alleged, saying that as a result they could not take up legal actions.
A total of 11 houses and 9 shops were dismantled during the government’s eviction drive on August 3 which also severely affects the livelihoods of around 37 women vendors.
On the other hand the government agencies claimed that the move was taken up to evict the alleged encroachers which resulted in a tense stand-off between the police and the residents.
Some of the villagers were also seriously injured during the stand-off.
Meanwhile a relief centre has been opened with the help of the local clubs and their MLA Tongbram Mangibabu at the Sendra Community hall where around 52 families are taking shelter.
Sources available here claimed that that villagers affected by the eviction drive were once allowed to live there since 2002.