At least six persons were injured from police teargas shells during a confrontation when occupants of Tribal Colony, New Checkon attempted to stop machineries from demolishing the fencing of the colony on Monday.
On the sidelines of the activity, DC, Imphal East Khumanthem Diana told the media that there are a total of 187 government quarters of various types. In March 2021, the Works department had issued an order to vacate the occupants of the quarters as the government is planning to construct a new quarter building at the same spot. However, 83 occupants had appealed to the court to arrange an alternative arrangement so that they could be relocated to another place, she added.
One year has passed since the government issued the order but most of the occupants have not vacated the quarters yet, she said. However, several notifications were issued by the authority concerned, she added.
Even the government is providing House Rent Allowance (HRA) to the occupants so that the occupants can get an alternative arrangement, she mentioned. She further appealed to the occupants of the colony to vacate at the earliest as responsible government employees.
As the government machineries tried to demolish the fencing wall of the said colony, the occupants tried to stop the demolition, claiming that an alternative arrangement had not been provided to them.
A mob gathered and police fired several numbers of teargas shells to control the situation. At least six persons were injured by the teargas shells.
One Songbiakthang Hangsing, 36, son of Chinzatung Hangsing sustained injury on his right cheek, allegedly by a teargas shell at the quarter of Superintendent of Police, Tengnoupal district, B Golianmang.
Another person Somila Raikhan alias Paishola, 65, wife of late Thotwon Raikhan received injury on her left ankle. During the incident, some others also received minor injuries. The injured have been rushed to JNIMS hospital for treatment.
One Atham Makang who is also one of the occupants of the Tribal Colony quarter told the media that an alternative arrangement for them to shift to another quarter should have been made as per government rule.
“Where shall the occupants go if the government vacates them without providing an alternative arrangement? The 187 occupants will become homeless,” said Atham.
He said the occupants are not against that order of government but are demanding for an alternative arrangement that should have been made before such steps are taken up.
“The present government has been taking various steps like ‘go to hills, mission’ etc. If the objective of the mission is to bring welfare for the hill people, then the government should also consider the hill people inhabiting the valley. If equal welfare activities are not taken up for the hill people inhabiting in both hills and valleys, then the mission is useless,” said Atham.
He further said that the additional superintendent of police, Imphal East should be responsible for the injured, and further demand to bear the medical expenses for the treatment.
Later, the demolition work was halted in the evening.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had written earlier on his Facebook wall that the state government will evict all the illegal occupiers of government quarters, and those government employees who are renting their quarters to others will be suspended and further necessary action will be initiated for termination.
“This action is being taken up to check the illegal activities by many illegal occupiers of the quarters,” Biren posted on his Facebook wall.
