Imphal, September 23: �It has been for the sake of protecting the land that the people of Jessami village have been fighting the encroachment upon the territory of Manipur by people from beyond Nagaland border for the last many years.

The State Government should be more practical when it comes to the question of protecting its territorial integrity.� This was stated by Wejope Lohe, a member of the Village Council of Jessami, while talking to mediapersons.

Located at a distance of about 111 kms from Ukhrul district headquarters, Jessami is the border village of Manipur with Nagaland and its people have been at loggerheads with the people of Melori village on the Nagaland side over demarcation of the boundary.

Lohe strongly deplored the indifferent attitude of the State Government towards the plight of the people living in the remote area despite contributing their mite in protecting the territorial integrity of the State.

It is for the sake of protecting the territory of Manipur that the people of Jessami have been fighting against encroachment from beyond the border, he said, adding that the State Government should be more practical when it comes to the issue of protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.

He pointed out that the State Government should take up some pro-active role in resolving the border dispute with the neighbouring State of Nagaland before it is too late.

Although �Choka land� has been recognised as the political boundary of the two neightbouring States, the villages have their own inter-village boundaries which demarcate one from the other.

The people of Melori of Nagaland are claiming that the boundary of Nagaland lies 6 kms within Jessami village.

It is said that the Village guards from Nagaland side who are equipped with 303 guns are not allowing the villagers of Jessami to tend their fields located near the border and the crops grown by the Jessami villagers are being destroyed.

On the other hand, the hospital building at Jessami which was inaugurated by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in 2003 has ceased functioning in the absence of any doctor and other necessary infrastructures.