House set ablaze at Nine Miles Paodel Basti
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 20 2016:
One house was set ablaze in the night of last Wednesday following the alleged refusal of Nepali blocks of Irang Part I located within Kangpokpi sub-division to register themselves under Thonglang Atongba Village Authority.
According to police sources, the burnt house belonged to the chairman of Nine Miles Paodel Basti located around 16 Kms to the West of Kangpokpi police station.
It was reported that larger portion of the house was used as godown.
Altogether 100 litres of SK Oil and 45 bags of rice stored in the godown for distribution to villagers, 15 bags of rice (50 Kgs each) belonging to the village chairman and 200 litres of diesel were destroyed in the arson.
Even though police have identified five individuals involved in the arson, there has been no report of any arrest.
High ranking police officers including the concerned SP and the Additional SP inspected the charred remains of the house on the next day.
Moreover, 15 armed police personnel have been deployed in the area so as to thwart any further untoward incident.
Thonglang Atongba village and Nine Miles Paodel Basti are separated by three Kms and there has been a long standing conflict between the two villages with regard to the assertion that Nepali blocks located there should be registered with the village authority of Thonglang Atongba, the source informed.
Thonglang Atongba Village Authority served a written notice to all chairmen of Nepali villages located within Irang Part I to register their respective villages with them (Thonglang Atongba Village Authority) between October 12 and October 26 last.
But the Nepali village chairmen objected the same notification contending that Nepali people started settling there since the British colonial period.
This resulted in skirmishes and confrontation between the two communities.
Moreover, Nine Miles Village Authority chairman was staying either at Kangpokpi or Imphal as he was afraid to live at his own village.
A copy of the notification served by Thonglang Atongba Village Authority was also sent to the Senapati DC.
Subsequently, the Senapati DC issued an order on October 5 asking both Thonglang Atongba and Irang Part I to submit all relevant land documents.
Both the villages have submitted their land documents and the DC is expected to take up necessary action to resolve the tense situation.
The Hill Areas Committee held a meeting on October 26 on the issue and it decided to institute an enquiry, the sources added.