6 injured in tear gas shelling 

Imphal: At least six persons were injured when police fired tear gas shells when occupants of Tribal Colony, New Checkon tried to stop machineries of state government trying to demolish the fencing of the colony on Monday.

Imphal East deputy commissioner Khumanthem Daina told reporters that there are a total of 187 government quarters of various types. In March 2021 works department had issued an order to vacate the occupants of the quarters as government is planning to construct a new quarter building at the same spot. A total of 83 occupants had appealed the court to arrange an alternative arrangement to shift the quarter, she added.

She said one year has passed after the issue of the government order for vacation of the quarter and since then most of the occupants do not vacate the quarters as against several notification from concerned were made. Government is providing house rent allowance to the occupants so that the occupants can get an alternative arrangement.

She appealed the occupants of the colony as a responsible government employee should vacate the quarters at the earliest government.

When the government machineries tried to demolish the fencing wall of the colony, occupants of the colony tried to stop them as they asked how the state authority try to demolish the quarter without providing them an alternative arrangement.

Mob erupted, and to control the mob police fired several rounds of tear gas shells. During the incident at least six persons were injured.

One tear gas shell blast at the quarter of Superintendent of Police, Tengnoupal district, B Golianmang, where one Songbiakthang Hangsing, 36, son of Chinzatung Hangsing was injured on his right cheek. Another person Somila Raikhan alias Paishola, 65, wife of late Thotwon Raikhan received injury on her left ankle. During the incident some of them also received minor injuries. The injured have been rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences hospital for treatment.

One Atham Makang who is also one of the occupants of the Tribal Colony quarter told reporters that as per government rule an alternative arrangement to shift the quarter should be made before providing them to vacate the quarters.

“Where should the occupants go if the government vacate them without providing an alternative arrangement? The 187 occupants will become homeless”, Atham said.

He said additional superintendent of police, Imphal East should be responsible of the injured and demand to bear the medical expenses for the treatment.

The demolition work was halted in the evening.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh had earlier posted on his facebook wall that 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 said.