Hectares of paddy fields fall into hands of Kukis
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, July 05 2023: With Kuki militants dominating the area, Kukis have taken over several hectares of fields at Moirang High Canal and started agricultural activities.

The arable agricultural land covering several Loukon (zones comprising several hectares of land) is situated under Bishnupur district's revenue village 52 Ngangkha and 91 Kwakta.

The agricultural land now under Kuki domination extends from the Loktak Lift Irrigation Moirang High Canal to the foothills of Thangjing.

The Loktak Lift Irrigation (LLI) Moirang High Canal is a 2 Km stretch between Tronglaobi and Kwakta.

The vast agricultural land comprises Eshing Thembi Loukon, Chingdamba Loukon, Naoshekpa Loukon and Laithel Loukon.

Hectares of paddy fields fall into hands of Kukis

These Loukons (zones) are in the vicinity of the villages of Wangthrok, Molshang, Laika Molshang, Molphei Tampak, Moulngat, Tharoilok and Matawan.The agricultural land/fields are mostly owned by Meitei and Muslim farmers from Imphal, Ningthou-khong, Naranseina, Thamna- pokpi, Moirang, Tronglaobi, Terakhongshangbi and tribal villagers on the foothills of Thangjing.While Muslim and tribal communities are allowed to carry out agricultural activities, Meiteis have not been allowed.

Now the vast agricultural land belonging to the people of Meitei community have been taken over by the Kukis.

The Kukis have even started sowing paddy, said sources.

Meitei farmers have been blocked and prohibited from entering their farmland by the Central security forces deployed at Moirang High Canal.

A farmer from Tronglaobi said a complaint has been filed with the Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur district on the issue.

The farmers said his fathers and forefathers owned the land and they have been cultivating the fields for generations in the area.

Now due to the present violent conflict, they are not allowed to enter the field and sow paddy.

He partly blamed the security forces deployed at the High Canal.

The Central security forces do not understand that the land belongs to Bishnupur district.

Authorities concerned should inform them that the farmers are only trying to carry out agricultural activities on their own land, he said.

He continued that the forces have been stationed at the wrong place.

As they have been stationed at Moirang High canal, the Meitei farmers have been blocked in the area and hectares and hectares of agricultural land have been left unattended to the benefit of the Kukis, he added.

The Central security forces must be deployed at a more appropriate place at the foothills, he said.

Another farmer added that the people of the State depend on agriculture for sustenance.

If the Meiteis are not allowed to man the fields, then there will be famine next year.

The Government and the authorities concerned should take up appropriate actions and allow the Meitei farmers to man their land, he said.

Stating Kuki militants had often fired at farmers before scaring them, he said all bunkers built by the Kuki militants outside their designated areas should be destroyed and adequate security forces should be deployed to allow the farmers carry out agricultural activities safely and peacefully.

He asked the Government to deploy the Central security forces at Thangjing foothills.

Meanwhile, a person carrying an airgun in the fields scared farmers prompting commando personnel to rescue them.

This happened amid incidents of indiscriminate firing by Kuki militants scaring farmers in Bishnupur.

The incident happened at around 10 am today at Kha Postshangbam Maning Loukon.

Thokchom Ajitkumar, his father Th Jiten and another person were in the field when they saw a person carrying what appeared to be a gun from a distance.

Suspecting it to be a Kuki militant, they hid in a gorge and contacted their families who informed the police.

A team of Bishnupur district commandos rushed to the spot and rescued them.

After the commando personnel inquired about the incident, a tribal farmer who was in the area told them it was a person carrying an airgun.