Newmai News Network
Imphal: The Manipur government, in an order issued on Tuesday, cautioned people who had “encroached” upon the properties of those who had fled because of the violence.
The government order issued in the backdrop of a recent directive of the Supreme Court of India, also advised the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of the districts to take suitable actions while reminding them of the Home department’s letter sent to them on October 3 last.
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On September 25 last, the Supreme Court had passed an order directing the Manipur government to ensure protection of the properties of the displaced persons as well as those which have been destroyed or burnt in violence and prevent their encroachment.
Hearing a special leave petition (civil), the apex court had also directed that the status of religious buildings be protected from encroachment and the buildings be protected from damage or destruction.
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Today’s order issued by the Manipur Home department stated that the state government views the matter very seriously with utmost sensitivity as any such incident may further ignite or aggravate the law and order situation in the state.
The order reiterated that nobody without any exception shall violate the orders passed by the Supreme Court of India under any circumstances.
Anybody found violating the same shall be booked under the relevant provision of law of the land for the time in force and shall be liable for contempt of the Supreme Court of India.
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The state government also appealed to all concerned including public functionaries to comply with the court’s order passed on September 25 to avoid any contempt proceedings, the order stated.
Notably, the Manipur government, in an order issued on October 5, had also cautioned against renaming places including districts and sub-divisions, institutions without prior permission from the competent authorities of the state government.
The order signed by state chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi had further cautioned stringent action against renaming of districts, sub-divisions, places, institutions under the relevant law of the land.
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The orders were issued in the backdrop of media reports of renaming of various places, particularly in violent affected districts by civil society organisations in their own interests and also encroachment of properties and houses abandoned by the owners.
People in their thousands were displaced after their houses were torched by the violence that erupted in the afternoon of May 3 last that had claimed the lives of more than 175 people and injured hundreds of others.
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