Concern over forced eviction at Kangchup Chiru Village
- 26th August 2024 : Forum for Indigenous Rights Manipur (FIRM) -

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The Forum for Indigenous Rights Manipur (FIRM) expressed our serious concern over the forced eviction carried out at Kangchup Chiru Village, Kangpokpi district at 10 am of 6 December, 2022 by the Forest department and Kangpokpi Police dismantling two houses, assaulted nine and nine arrested without genuine/rational ground.

Two houses under construction belonging to Mr. TR. Rengsomding, male 37 and TR Finalson, Male 35 of Kangchup Chiru Village were demolished. Moreover, nine villagers were assaulted and nine others were arrested under FIR No 26/12/2022 GSPM -PS U/S 186/148/333/34 IPC. The forced eviction was conducted with the allegation of being encroached to Kangchup Chiru Reserve forest in violation of section 26 (1) (h) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and rule 73 of section 76 (d) of Manipur Forest Rule, 2021 but as per documents, it was grossly false as the said reserved forest is just 2.59 sq. km within Sembumlok to Yenbumlok declared in 1948.

The secret plan of forest department to extend the said Kangchup Chiru reserve forest till Maklang River is the prime factor for the unwanted incident which was done without any consultation and consent of the villagers. FIRM asserted that forced eviction of houses within local settlement constitutes a serious threat to the very existence of tribal communities.

FIRM further expressed that assault and arrest of villagers for defending their own land is against the protection enshrined in the Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Besides this, the indigenous peoples' rights defined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP) are undermined too. Additionally, the indigenous right forum would like to urge the concerned Govt Authorities to justify the issues at Kangchup Chiru village and arrange necessary compensation to the owners of the two forced evicted families, proper treatment given to one Mr. JD. Songeng, male 76 who remained hearing impaired due to mock bomb explosion and revoke the FIR filed against 9 persons.

Finally, FIRM would like to appeal the concerned Govt. authorities to justify the issue of forced eviction at Kangchup Chiru village as per Section 4 (5) of the ERA. 2006, ensure compliance of the provision of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Manipur Forest Rule, 2021 with the international human rights standard, UNDRIP, 2007 and implement the Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

(Jajo Themson)
President, FIRM