Manipur: Resistance stalls Khurai eviction drive; operation resumes after talks

An eviction drive carried out at Khurai Telipati in Manipur's Imphal East district on Monday, June 22, witnessed brief resistance from local residents, leading to a temporary suspension of the operation before it was later completed.

The drive began around 7.30 a.m. following an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East to remove shops and other structures allegedly constructed on government khas land.

Residents gathered at the site and objected to the eviction, resulting in a tense situation. The crowd reportedly prevented officials from proceeding with the operation and stopped a JCB machine brought in for the demolition. A confrontation also ensued between some residents and officials, including the Executive Magistrate overseeing the drive.

According to sources, the dispute over the land has been pending for a considerable period and had also been taken to court. The High Court of Manipur is reported to have dismissed the case on January 22 this year, following which fresh eviction notices were issued to the occupants.

After several hours of discussions, officials, including the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and other concerned authorities, held talks with the affected residents to ease tensions.

The eviction operation subsequently resumed and was completed without any further disruption.
Officials maintained that the drive was carried out in accordance with the court order and the directions issued by the district administration.