Sailent village
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 13 2013:
Taking strong exception to the Cabinet decision of May 6 according to which both Seijang and Sailent villagers have been prohibited from accessing the particular area where 3 6 houses were burnt down, Sailent Village Authority claimed that there is no dispute over the particular area as it belongs to Sailent village.
Speaking to media persons at Tangkhul Avenue community hall here today, Sailent Village Authority member David Shimray termed it unfortunate that Seijang villagers same to Sailent village and burnt down a number of houses on May 3 thereby destroying properties worth several lakhs.
Villagers of Sailent made their settlement in the particular area since 1965 .
From that period, the said area belongs to Sailent village.In the aftermath of the May 3 arson, a Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister O Ibobi on May 6 resolved that the area where the houses were burnt was disputed and hence neither party should be allowed assess the area.
But this Cabinet decision was unacceptable and condem-nable.
It was not the duty of the Cabinet to impose or withdraw restrictions.
It is the duty of law court, David Shimray said.
Maintaining that Sailent villagers would build their houses and live in the said area, David Shimray asserted that no one has the right to prevent Sailent villagers from settling in the particular area.
Nonetheless, David Shimray on behalf on Sailent village conveyed gratitude to the State Government as well as other organisations for the relief materials provided to Sailent village.
He also appealed to the Government to provide compen-sation for all the properties destroyed in the arson.