Widespread protest across Manipur’s hill districts against alleged eviction drives

Widespread protests have broken out in Manipur’s hill districts against alleged eviction drives carried out by the state government without proper rehabilitation and resettlement of those evicted. Thousands took to the streets in Manipur’s Churachandpur, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi today holding placards and banners, decrying alleged extension of land revenue in scheduled hill areas of Manipur. The protestors have also alleged that tribal inhabited villages or land under private ownership have been wrongly declared as Reserved Forest area, protected forest area, protected sites and wildlife sanctuaries among others. In Kangpokpi, tensions erupted after hundreds defied Section 144 CRPC and gathered at the Brigadier Thomas Ground in the district headquarters