Source:
Imphal, February 23 2013 : A stand-off ensued today between evicted dwellers of Loktak Lake and officials of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) at the largest fresh water body of the region as the latter accompanied by Moirang police personnel tried to carry out eviction drive.
An elderly woman collapsed inside one of the canoes after a police personnel fired a shot in the air to disperse the locals, who gheraoed the eviction team.
Defying a Gauhati High Court restrain order, the LDA officials along with the accompanying police personnel started to dismantle one of the existing huts constructed on the floating biomass of the Lake at around 11.30 am.
heavy LDA machinery were used in dismantling the hut.
But the eviction team’s attempt to dismantle another adjacent hut was stiffly opposed by the local fishing community who paddled towards the site and shouted slogans against the eviction drive.
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It is said that the Gauhati high Court on February 16 served a legal notice asking LDA to maintain status quo in the Lake until further order.
Based on a petition the court ordered that no further disturbance should be caused to the floating huts.
Even though there was major violent incident during the eviction campaign heated exchange of words ensued between the locals and the LDA officials for nearly two hours with the locals encircling the officials.
Before moving away from the site, newspersons who reached the spot heard the LDA officials warning that they would arrive another day and certainly burn down the thatched structures.
They also wryly asked the locals to make all possible measures to stop them the next time around.
Even though the LDA officials announced that the eviction drive was launched according to instruction (order) issued by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also the LDA Chairman, they did not furnish the said order copy to the locals.
Among others, the eviction team comprised LDA Executive Engineers Marjit, Gunamani and Sivavon, and officer in-charge of Moirang police station.
Meanwhile the hut destroyed today belongs to one Haobijam premjit (33) while the one prevented by the locals is owned by one Haobijam Bino (49) .
The woman, who collapsed in firing has been identified as one Salam (O) Memcha Devi (55) w/o Salam Bino.
via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://www.necalling.com/loktak-dwellers-confront-eviction-team/
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