From land to water: Tunggam lockhorns with Tungjoy
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Senapati, July 27 2012:
The land dispute between Tungjoy village of Manipur and Nagaland border village Khezekheno has taken a new twist with another village coming up to claim ownership over Proulailai-the disputed site.
In a statement made available to media houses yesterday, Chairman of the Joint Four Tunggam Villages L.Vikho and Secretary Lokho Khaikhai asserted that the said dispute forest land has been the property of Tunggam Villages since time immemorial and that there should be no claim over ownership of the land any unauthorized party except Tunggam Villages.
The statement also alleged that the water pipes located at the said forest land were destroyed by some Tungjoy Villagers on 18th May, 2012 .
Coming out strongly against the destruction caused to the water supply line, the four Tunggam Villages stated that after a proper investigation, it is now evidently clear now that destruction of the water pipes was initiated by Tungjoy villagers on the night of 18th May, 2012 .
"We will not tolerate such irresponsible act and that Tunggam Villages will consider the matter seriously", the statement added.
According to sources, villagers of the four Tunggam Villages numbering about more than 1200 of them went to the site to inspect the condition of the water supply source and found the pipes destroyed.
The Proulailai forest land is a bordering forest land between Tunggam Village, Manipur and Khezekheno Village, Nagaland and not with Tungjoy Village and that, the claim of Tunggam (Khumai) village is historical and legitimate, sources claimed.
It may be recalled here that in the morning of July 22, three villagers from Tungjoy were allegedly abducted by villagers of Khezekheno and a Shaktiman was burned down.
Following immediate intervention of Senapati District Deputy Commissioner P.K Jha, IAS and its counterparts in Phek district of Nagaland, the abducted persons were later released unconditionally in the evening of the same day in the presence of the Senapati and Kohima Police team.
Tungjoy Village claims its ownership over the said disputed site, which is said to be fertile forest land with abundance water sources, though Nagaland Armed Police have been deployed in the area for the last many years.