IE-Kpi tug of war over villages
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal/Kangpokpi, November 18 2022:
Demanding that no villages in Imphal East adjacent to Ukhrul and Kangpokpi should be added in the hill districts after demarcation, locals of Thamnapokpi and Shanasabi staged a sit in protest at Thamnapokpi, today.
On the other hand, the Kuki Women Union (KWU) Saikul in its joint meeting with women's organization leaders rejected the allegation that a conspiracy has been hatched to absorb some Imphal' East village under Kangpokpi.
The protest demonstration at Thamnapokpi was jointly organised by the village committee of Thamnapokpi and Shanasabi.
On the sideline, secretary of Thamnapokpi Village Committee, Leitam Madhuchandra said that some people from hill districts brought out different maps which incorporate Meetei villages in the hill districts.
Saying that the maps also touch certain hill regions gifted to the Meetei villages by the State Durbar in 1932, he urged the State Government to look into the matter and save their ancestral lands.
"This act of intruding into Meetei villages is totally unacceptable," Madhuchandra added.
He also claimed that certain cadres belonging to SoO outfits frequently harass and intimidate the Meeteis living close to hill districts.
During the demonstration, placard with inscriptions "Stop land encroachment with SoO armed group" "Stop British Colonial policy - Sadar Hills" "Form District Boundary Commission" and "Withdraw Renaming of Villages" were displayed.
The protesters also demanded that areas under Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Sadar Hills must be demarcated at the earliest.
At Kangpokpi, KWU Saikul president Neinu said that the allegations being raised by Village Development Committee of Pukhao Naharup and other Pukhao bodies that some lands belonging to Imphal East have been absorbed in Kangpokpi district is baseless.
She also said that there are no new land maps which have been modified to convert Meetei villages to hill districts.
The allegation of Pukhao bodies is not only baseless but a sinister design to create enmity and misunderstanding among the people, she alleged.