Proposed indefinite highway bandh deferred till Oct 5 ; Disputed land belongs to Makhan, claims MU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2019: The Makhan Union has claimed that the land being contested between Makhan and Maram belongs to the former and following a late evening meeting with Chief Minister N Biren, an indefinite highway bandh which was to come into force from midnight today, has been put on hold till October 5 .

TD and Hills Minister N Karisii and PHED Minister L Dikho were also present during the meeting with the Chief Minister today evening.

Makhan Union is demanding that those responsible for the arson of September 17, in which 18 houses were torched, be arrested and had given a 72 hour deadline for the arrest to be effected.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Makhan Union president Henry K Henny said that Makhan and Maram are two neighbouring villages and the two have been engaged in a land dispute since a very long time back.

Proposed indefinite highway bandh deferred till Oct 5 ; Disputed land belongs to Makhan, claims MU

Compelled by the dispute, Makhan villagers lodged a complaint to the Manipur State Durbar in 1905.Acting on the complaint, the Superintendent of Manipur State Durbar went to Maram IB, called both the contesting parties and adjudicated the dispute.

After studying the dispute, the Superintendent announced that the southern side of the road starting from Maram IB and leading to Maram Khullen belongs to Maram.

However, Maram villagers continued to encroach upon areas belonging to Makhan.

Subsequently, Makhan villagers lodged another complaint to the Manipur State Durbar.

Responding to the complaint, Manipur State Durbar collected a fine of Rs one from two/three Maram families who cultivated paddy in areas belonging to Makhan.

Maram villagers too lodged a complaint to the Manipur State Durbar in 1924-25 contending that the demarcation carried out by the Superintendent was not satisfactory.

Acting on the complaint, a trial was held at the Court of Manipur State Durbar at Imphal.

However, the complaint was rejected as no Maram villagers came to the Court on the day of the trial.

In 1929-30, Maram villagers encroached into the areas of Makhan and took possession of certain parts.

The matter was heard in the Court of SDO North.

The Court ruled that the areas taken over by Maram villagers belong to Makhan as per the demarcation carried out in 1905 but they (Maram villagers) may file a fresh complaint if they were not satisfied with the demarcation, Henry K Henny said.

Maram villages lodged another complaint in 1930-31.They gave a statement in Court claiming that the particular areas where they cultivated paddy belong to them and Makhan villagers were cultivating paddy in the area as tenants.

As the Court asked Makhan villagers whether they paid tax in kind (loushal) for the particular paddy fields, the villagers replied that they never paid any form of tax.

As such, the report that Makhan villagers paid Loushal to Maram till 1978 is baseless, Henry contended.

Peace reigned between the villages for a long period starting from 1930 till Maram villagers started constructing houses in areas belonging to Makhan in 2012-13.Even as the then DC was requested to come to the site and see the encroachment, the DC never came.

After fighting five cases, there was silence between the two villages and the boundaries demarcated in 1905 was seemingly accepted by both parties, Henry continued.

Contending that Makhan villagers never encroached upon areas belonging to others, Henry decried that Maram villagers could have given prior warning if they thought that the disputed land belong to them instead of burning down houses when people were asleep.

By burning down houses when the families were asleep, the Maram villagers only exposed their evil motive, Henry K Henny remarked.

Even after a bandh of 72 hours was imposed on Imphal-Mao highway demanding arrest of the culprits involved in the arson, no one has been booked till date.

As such, an indefinite highway bandh would be imposed with effect from this midnight.

If the culprits are arrested, the bandh would lifted immediately, added the Makhan Union president.