Villagers appeal for freedom to cultivate their own land
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2017:
The villagers of Sandangsenba Maring have appealed to all the parties concerned to allow the villagers to freely utilise and cultivate their own land .
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Sadar Hills ADC Member Dr M Dominic Kansouwa said that yesterday a large number of the villagers went to the fields to raise funds for the village but were cut short at Chonga Loukol by the chief of Andro who along his people barred them from advancing further and even took away 16 villagers of Sandangsenba Maring .
Alleging that the villagers were taken away on charge of trespassing on the land/ area owned by Andro, he claimed that the particular area in-fact belong to Sandangsenba village and further condemned the action of the chief .
He explained that during 2014, numerous villagers from Andro came and tried to cultivate in the area but were stopped by the people of Sandangsenba village and a complaint was also lodged at Imphal East as well as Senapati police stations to prevent any unwanted incident from happening .
Dominic Kansouwa also appealed to the party concerned not to cause any disturbance to the villagers of Sandangsenba and to give the villagers freedom in using their own land .
He further urged the Forest Department to organise its tree plantation programme under Van Mahotsav at another venue instead of the area .
The villagers captured by the people of Andro were rescued by a team of Imphal East police, Andro OC and Yairipok police today, he added.