Tension grips two villages over land dispute
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik.
Ukhrul, February 18 2023:
Locals of Chingjaroi have allegedly destroyed two water reser-voirs, one dwelling house, one lemon farm, water pipes and MGNREGS name plate of Kharasom village over a land dispute despite promulgation of CrPC 144 .
Speaking to media persons, a local of Kharasom village, Augustine Horam Mantri said that about 600 armed locals of Chingjaroi village started felling trees inside their territory on February 16 .
Saying that they tried to confront the 'intruding' people, he added that the situation subsided after the intervention of Raphei Wungnao, Tusom & Wa-hong headmen and some Pastors.
Soon after the incident, the District Magistrate of Ukhrul promulgated CrPC 144, he said and added the one house, however, was torched by the Chingjaroi villagers in the presence of police force yesterday.
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Condemning the police for 'not protecting the house', he added that the ill-fated house belonged to Runmi Zimik.
A local Chihanmi Va-shum sustained injuries in a jostle, he claimed.
Alleging that the Ching-jaroi villagers also destroyed water reservoirs and the water pipe line that supplies water to Kharasom village, he added that the water supply to the village has been cut-off entirely causing acute water shortage.
They also cut down pine trees grown in the community land apart from attacking a lemon farm, he further alleged and added that properties worth around Rs 56 lakh were destroyed in the incident.
According to Mantri Augustine, both Kharasom and Chingjaroi villages had held multiple rounds of talks to resolve the issue honourably since September 2022 .
Reportedly, SDO, SDPO, OC of Jessami block visited Kharasom to take stock of the unfolding situation.
Additional forces of 6 Manipur Rifles have been deployed at Kharasom village.