Gorkha leaders refute TAVA, urge authorities to remove signboards
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, September 08 2022: Vehemently denying the claim of Thonglang Atongba Village Authority, Gorkha leaders of Irang Part-I have clarified that the signboards were put up within the jurisdiction of Irang Part-I and not in Thonglang Atongba jurisdiction as claimed by the village authority.

Speaking to media persons at Kangpokpi town, Gorkha leaders led by Sagar Gewali, former ADC Sadar Hills councilor, and Man Kumar Yogi, chairman Lamchok alleged that the Thonglang Atongba Village Authority intended to grab Gorkha's grazing land by putting up signboards in the name of their forefather's historical monuments when there are no such monuments related to Thonglang Atongba within Irang Part-I jurisdiction.

Strongly refuting the Thonglang Atongba VA's alleged fabricated historical monuments story within Irang Part-I jurisdiction, the Gorkha leaders pointed out that the place where the signboards/nameplates are put up legitimately falls under Irang Part-I Gorkha Grazing village land and Thonglang Atongba village authority cannot simply claim ownership of the occupied land just by a dream up story.

"Thonglang Atongba village has a separate jurisdiction while Irang Part-I is specially reserved by the then Government and State Durbar since 1920 for Gorkha's Grazing Reserve as the Gorkhas residing in the area paid grazing tax which we continue to pay till now to the Government, and there is no questioned of paying Rampon or Customary land tax to them", asserted the Gorkha leaders.

According to the Gorkha leaders, Thonglang Atongba Village Authority on August 26 put up signboards/nameplates at Manedara, Ghimerethari and Chuchekhop under Irang Part-I jurisdiction, which the Gorkhas considered an intention to grab Irang Part-I Gorkha Grazing village land and its ownership.

In a bid to avoid any communal tension between the Nepali villagers and Thonglang Atongba villagers, the Gorkha leaders approached Deputy Commissioner Kangpokpi with a complaint and requested the district administration to remove the signboards at the earliest to prevent any communal tension.

Negating the Thonglang Atongba VA's claim of few Gorkha leaders being no more residents of Thonglang areas, the Gorkha leaders rebutted that they were never residents of Thonglang Atongba areas since birth rather they are bonafide residents of Irang Part-I and there is no question of us being no longer a resident of Thonglang area.

The Gorkha leaders also appealed to the district administration and authorities concerned to immediately remove the illegal sign boards put up within the jurisdiction of Irang Part-I Gorkha's Grazing land to avoid any unwanted communal incidents.

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