Tension escalated in Shillong on Tuesday when a group of students from a private university in Imphal stormed the office of the Planning and Development Authority (PDA). They protested against the recent demolition of the historic Redlands Building, also known as the Manipur Rajbari. The demonstrators chanted slogans like “Long Live Manipur” and “Down Down PDA,” accusing the authorities of disrespecting Manipur’s cultural heritage and demanding accountability for what they labeled as the destruction of a historical symbol.
Constructed in the 1940s, the Redlands Building was once the residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh, the former ruler of Manipur. In response to the escalating protests, police personnel, led by senior officials, were dispatched to the PDA office in the Chingmeirong area to manage the situation. Despite efforts to keep the crowd at bay, students broke through barricades and locked the gates of the office compound.
The demolition of the Rajbari last week in Meghalaya’s capital has ignited widespread outrage and condemnation across political lines. Political parties, including the BJP and Congress, as well as several civil society organizations in both states, have criticized the action, labeling it a significant cultural and historical loss. In Imphal, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Convenor Khuraijam Athouba described the demolition as “a grave act of negligence and betrayal of public trust” and urged authorities to take responsibility and protect the remaining segments of Manipur’s heritage.
Reports indicate that the Redlands Building was demolished to pave the way for a new Manipur Bhavan or guest house project initiated by the Manipur government. However, this decision has sparked a broader debate over heritage conservation and interstate coordination. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who also leads the National People’s Party, has distanced his government from the controversy, stating during a recent visit to Imphal that no permissions had been granted by the Meghalaya authorities for the demolition.
The backlash continues to grow, with historians, scholars, heritage groups, and student organizations deeming the loss of the Rajbari as “irreparable,” representing a severe blow to the shared cultural legacy of the Northeast.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/meghalaya/students-storm-pda-office-in-shillong-over-demolition-of-manipur-rajbari/34297/
Category: Meghalaya,Manipur Rajbari,Shillong,Students
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Publish Date: 2025-10-15 16:06:00
