On Wednesday, protests in Shillong — the capital of Meghalaya — reached a fourth consecutive day after the historic Redlands Buildings were torn down. The two‑story bungalow, built in the 1940s and once home to Manipur’s Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh, stood on a site that in 1949 saw the Merger Agreement signed between Manipur and India.
The demolition, carried out on October 8 under the direction of Manipur’s Planning and Development Authority (PDA), sparked anger among Manipuri groups living in Meghalaya. Members of the Manipuri Elders’ Consortium, Shillong (MECS) and the Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union (SMSU) gathered in Laitumkhrah for a “massive, peaceful protest.”
They blasted the demolition as an “unforgivable act of erasing Manipur’s living history.” The groups want the officials responsible to face strict punishment, and they call for an immediate halt to any construction on the site until a transparent, independent investigation is carried out.
“We reject the government committee that will monitor the reconstruction because it includes those who ordered the demolition,” MECS stated. They also insist that local Manipuri representatives be part of the restoration oversight to ensure authenticity.
The Redlands Bungalow had been in danger for months. Various organisations and citizens urged preservation and careful restoration. Yet the PDA, in agreement with the Department of Art and Culture, moved forward with demolition, citing a development plan that would build a new Manipur Bhavan or a governmental guest house.
Calls for an inquiry have grown louder. Major parties—including the BJP and the Congress—along with senior MPs, civil‑society groups and student bodies, have joined the protests. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of the Meitei community, also demands a high‑level independent probe.
In response, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said his administration had not approved the demolition and denied any role in the destruction. He visited Imphal last week to assess the escalating ethnic tensions in Manipur.
The community’s frustration remains high. Manipuris in both Meghalaya and Manipur view the demolition as a serious loss to their cultural and political heritage and urge the government to act swiftly and transparently.
Keywords: Manipur, Shillong, Redlands Buildings, demolition, Manipur Bhavan, PDA, public protest, cultural heritage, independent inquiry.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
