Moidangpok residents protest against 'land encroachment'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 24 2015:
The residents of Moidangpok near New Keithelmanbi in Imphal West have denounced the alleged encroachment and renaming of Moidangpok Magzine area as "Lanhoiphai" by some people.
Talking to media persons at Moidangpok on Tuesday, Secretary of New Keithelmanbi Development Association Yengkhom Kunjeshwor said that the hill area of Moidangpok Magzine was used as ammunition-house by the CRPF and later acquired by the residents of Moidangpok in auction.
However, some people from Saikot assembly constituency came to the area and began to construct three houses under the "chieftainship" of one Holkhoupao Haokip.
Four houses belonging to BRTF labourers and one more house have also been constructed at Moidangpok Magzine area in the past one year.
There were no tribal settlers in the area before 1960, but some 'refugees' began to settle soon after the CRPF vacated the area, the Secretary said.
He further condemned the act of one Minister of the State Government who had allegedly favoured those 'land encroachers' and helped them in the establishment of a 'fake' village.
Kunjeshwor also stated that the disputed area falls under the jurisdiction of Patsoi Police Station, but the Minister in question sent personnel of Saparmeina Police Station to arrest the residents of Moidangpok in connection with the land dispute.