Manipur: Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh has written to Governor AKg Bhalla, demanding an inquiry into who approved the demolition of the historic Redlands Building also known as the Manipur Rajbari in Shillong. The site is deeply tied to Manipur’s royal and political history, and its demolition has sparked public anger and protests across the region.

The Manipur Planning and Development Authority (PDA), which is overseeing the “reconstruction and restoration” project, clarified on Sunday that the structure will be rebuilt in its original architectural style.

In his letter, Imo Singh questioned the rationale behind tearing down a monument of such cultural and national importance. He asked why the government failed to preserve or restore it, and who gave permission for its destruction. “This was not just a building,” he wrote, “it was a living reminder of Manipur’s journey into modern India.”

The Redlands Building is historically significant as the site where Manipur’s last king, Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh, signed the Merger Agreement with the Indian Union in September 1949. Constructed in the early 1940s, it also served as the Maharaja’s official residence during his stay in Shillong.

The PDA maintained that only a decayed portion was dismantled initially, but engineers later decided to bring down the entire structure citing safety concerns.

Imo Singh described the demolition as “a tragic erasure of a vital chapter of shared history,” adding that the loss of such a revered landmark has deeply wounded sentiments in both Manipur and Meghalaya.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally