Strong opposition is mounting in Lei Ingkhol, Imphal East, as residents push back against the state government’s plan to acquire their land for the expansion of the Manipur High Court complex, widely referred to as the “Temple of Justice.”
Speaking to the media, Maimom Anil, a resident of Lei Ingkhol, cautioned that any attempt to displace the community could provoke serious unrest. “Forcing us out is no different from taking away our lives,” he said.
Anil further stressed that the villagers would not abandon their land under any circumstances. “We will never leave until death. We are not going to move anywhere else. We have been living here for the last 60–70 years, and if anything unwanted happens in Lei Ingkhol, the responsibility will lie with the Manipur High Court,” he declared.
Lei Ingkhol was founded in the 1940s, when families affected by leprosy, tuberculosis, and other illnesses sought refuge there. Over the decades, it has grown into a thriving settlement of 759 households with more than 200 children under 15 years of age.
According to residents, while the Manipur High Court was initially granted 20 acres for expansion, the government has since moved to acquire 49 acres, of which 22 acres overlap the existing village area. Villagers allege that they have neither been given land pattas nor compensation, despite repeated surveys and government assurances since 2005, when the Capitol Project began.
Civil society organizations and women’s groups have rallied behind the villagers, condemning the potential eviction. Residents further argue that the settlement is officially recognized, pointing out that political candidates routinely seek votes there during elections.
Fears of displacement deepened after the state government issued a land acquisition order on September 10, which residents say could trigger forced eviction at any moment. Many believe the move, if carried out without resettlement, will devastate families and inflame tensions in the area.
Appealing for a humane solution, Anil urged authorities to acknowledge Lei Ingkhol’s decades-long existence. “Development should not mean destroying our community,” he said.
