A collective of civil society organisations today submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, urging immediate intervention to safeguard the rights and land of Lei Ingkhol Village.
The memorandum was signed by AMKIL, Nupi Samaj, Tammi Chingmi, EECHAL, MACHA LEIMA, NIMPAL, NLANL, KIKSSL, KPIKVWU, ANUL, Thoubal Ima, UPF, NIPCO, MAPI Council, and others.
The organisations appealed to the Governor to respect and maintain the current status of Lei Ingkhol Village and to return the 21 acres of land earlier allotted for the High Court Complex to the villagers, stating that the land is the foundation of their homes, culture, and livelihoods. They also urged the government to provide legal ownership rights and land documents to the villagers in order to protect them from future eviction threats.
The memorandum further called for a transparent and inclusive review of the High Court expansion plans, ensuring that villagers are part of the discussions. It stated that if relocation becomes unavoidable, the affected families must be provided with proper compensation and suitable living conditions.
Highlighting allegations of fraudulent land allocation, fake surveys, sham compensation and intimidation faced by the villagers, the organisations also demanded an independent investigation to restore public trust and uphold justice.
The signatories expressed hope that the Governor’s intervention would ensure protection of the people’s rights, dignity, and peaceful coexistence between developmental projects and indigenous communities.