Manipur: Clashes Erupt Between Police and Public During an Eviction Drive

IMPHAL: Tension gripped Manipur as clashes broke out between the public and the police during an eviction drive in the state's Chingmeirong area on Wednesday. 

An eviction team along with the police was sent to the Chingmeirong area in Imphal East District on Wednesday to perform the eviction. But the convoy of the eviction team was asked to pull over by the public and a clash ensued between the two parties. 

The eviction drive was launched by the administration following the Manipur High Court's order to vacate all structures on scheduled land in the Imphal East district.

The protesting locals did not let the eviction team near their lands and argued that the lands belonged to their ancestors and that the government cannot claim its authority over them. 

The locals also alleged that The Department of Revenue of Manipur has manipulated the land records and had given the government the strong hand in the case but they would not let it happen. 

The eviction team tried with all their might and right to go on with the process of eviction but the protesting locals did not let them near their lands, because of which the eviction had to be called off. 

Chingmeirong Development Organisation President A Sharma in a statement said, " We are protesting against the high court order to vacate our lands as there is a manipulation in the revenue department in giving land certificates. This area belongs to our forefathers and to the Chingmeirong people since time immemorial and we would never let bulldozers ravage our land". 

"Someone turning up and claiming authority over the area will not be tolerated. We will stick to our demands and will not sacrifice," Sharma added in his statement. 

The demonstrators also blocked the NH-2 in the Chingmeirong area for hours to protest against the eviction drive. 

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