Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has sharply condemned the demolition of the historic Manipur Rajbari, also known as the Redlands Building, at Laitumkhrah in Shillong. The organization described the act as “an assault on collective memory” and “a deep wound to the sentiments of the Manipuri people.”

The Rajbari was once the residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh and the site where the 1949 Merger Agreement between Manipur and India was signed. Its demolition, carried out under the “Infrastructure Development of Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong” project by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) of the Manipur government, has sparked widespread outrage.

COCOMI dismissed the government’s claim that the structure was unsafe and termite-infested. “The Rajbari is not merely a building; it is a living testament to Manipur’s sovereign past and its unholy journey into modern India,” the organization said in a statement. It accused authorities of betraying assurances given in 2022 that the structure would be renovated without altering its original design.

According to COCOMI, the demolition was carried out without public consultation, expert opinion, or transparency. The committee also voiced suspicion that the “heritage development” project may be a pretext for constructing a new Manipur Bhavan, erasing a landmark deeply tied to Manipur’s modern history.

The committee has placed several demands before the government, including: Reconstruction of a full-scale replica of the original Rajbari at a different site, preserving the remains as a historic monument.

Declaration of October 8, 2025, as a day of mourning and remembrance. An investigation by the Monitoring and Supervision Committee into the roles of the PDA and the Department of Art and Culture.

An immediate halt to all ongoing work until public consultations with historians, heritage experts, civil society, and members of the royal family are held. Public release of all project documents, including the Detailed Project Report, approvals from the North Eastern Council, and any structural or safety audit reports.

Reconstruction that faithfully follows the Rajbari’s original architectural design and materials.

“Laikhuram Jayenta, convenor of COCOMI’s IPR Sub-Committee, said, ‘Heritage cannot be rebuilt with blueprints alone; it lives through authenticity, memory, and respect.’ He added that the demolition is not just about a structure but about ‘identity, dignity, and justice for the people of Manipur.’”

COCOMI has urged Manipuri scholars, cultural institutions, and citizens to unite in defense of the state’s heritage and to demand accountability from the authorities. “The Rajbari of Shillong is a sacred chapter of Manipur’s history. It can neither be restored nor replaced,” the statement concluded.