IT News
Imphal, May 17:
The KSO-GHQ and ANSAM, the apex students’ bodies of Kukis and Nagas expressed serious concern in connection with the incident that took place on 9th May, 2022 at Tribal Colony wherein four people were seriously injured.
“We condemned the incident in the strongest term for the violation of rights of the tribal people. The residents of Tribal Colony have always conveyed to the government that they are not averse to the idea of development and welcome the government’s plan to construct new multistoried buildings to accommodate more tribal employees of the state government. However, they have asked for an alternative arrangement to house the 187 occupants/employees/residents during the interim period before the new construction and completion of the same”, the joint statement said.
The statement added that following a show cause notice for eviction served on 24-12-2020, the residents of the colony had filed a PIL vide Writ Appeal No. 11 of 1993 in the High Court and the High Court consequently issued an Interim Order WP(C) No.345 of 2021, dated 29-10-2021 which maintained that the petitioners (residents) should not be disturbed without an alternative arrangement by the government. However, no such alternative arrangement has been made available by the state government till date and instead the state government attempts to bulldoze the residents.
“Such action of the government towards the Tribals is a stark violation of the stated interim order of the High Court. In addition the government has severed the drinking water supply pipelines and electricity connection besides threatening the local population by indiscriminately firing teargases and rubber bullets inside the occupied quarters. The Tribal Colony situated at New Checkon has a deep rooted legacy in the lives of many tribal people of the state as it has served the welfare of the tribal employees for the last over 60 years”, the statement said.
The colony was established exclusively for residential quarters of Grade IV tribal government servants and employees of Manipur Vide Manipur Gazette No: 94 dated 14-12-1960 with Secretariat Revenue No: 141/13/60-M dated 08-12-1960 and since then, the occupants of the aforesaid Quarters have been Tribal Govt. Servants till date. Presently it accommodates about 187 families and 9 churches.
The KSO, GHQ and ANSAM demanded the government to uphold the Interim Order of the High Court WP(C) No.345 of 2021 dated 29-10-2021 and refrain from disturbing the residents unless an alternative arrangement is made for them to relocate. The students’ bodies also urged to uphold the Supreme Court Order dated 29-09-2009 and 16-02-2010 by regularization or relocation of the nine religious structures as the case may be.
