Hostile neighbour tag given to Kangoi Khunou
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 04 2012: Aimol Tribe Union Manipur president Akhup Serto has alleged that Kangoi Khunou villagers had been showing very hostile attitude to neighbouring villages.

Appealing to major tribes/communities to restrain Kangoi Khunou settlers and find an amicable settlement to the issue, he informed that Kangoi Khunou is the newest village out of nine Aimol villages in Chandel district.

speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, Akhup claimed that inspite of Kangoi Khunou being a relatively new settlement area of Maring tribe with the land still in dispute, Kangoi Khunou villagers had been resorting to strong-arm tactics in exploiting natural resources of the area.

Naming the eight other Aimol villages as Aimol Khunyai, Kumberei, Chingnunghut, Aimol Tampak, Khomphai, Ngairang, Chandonpokpi and Aimol Khullen, he said Kangoi Khullen came into being in 1968 .

A court ruling in 1969 had ordered eviction of Kangoi Khunou but the decree remains ineffective till date, explained the Union president who maintained that Kangoi Khunou village chairman namely W Mocha recently claimed a 10 hectare land area as Kangoi Khunou land besides demarcating some adjacent portions as 'common land' .

In addition to claiming the 10 hectare land as property of Kangoi Khunou the settlers continue to rampantly cut down trees for commercial purpose while prohibiting entry of neighbouring villagers, said Akhup who also accused Kangoi Khunou villagers of using lethal weapons against outsiders besides forcibly collecting signatures of adjacent residents to assert claim on the 'common land' .

Recounting a recent incident, Akhup said on May 1 two Aimol Khullen villagers namely S Darkhuso (45) and SL Khulenthang (50) went to oversee pipe tree cultivation at Natonjou Hill range but were taken hostage by Kangoi Khunou villagers.

Along with the subsequent rescue of the two, an emergency meeting was convened to settle boundary disputes in which leaders of Aimol Tribe Union Manipur and Maring Uparup Assembly were also present, he said.

While the meeting resolution of imposing Rs 50,000 penalty on Kangoi Khunou for the cutting down trees was yet to be complied with, water supply pipes destroyed by Kangoi Khunou villagers, he further alleged.

As the incidents sparked off tension in the area, Aimol Tribe Union Manipur and Maring Uparup Assembly jointly convened another meeting at Pallel Bazar on May 2 but a team of Aimol villagers heading for the meeting was waylaid and beaten up by Kangoi Khunou villagers before reaching the meeting venue, charged Akhup.

due to seriousness of injuries suffered by B Allal (46) s/o B Arong of Chandonpokpi and Ch Thangpak (45) s/o Ch Changlen of Kumbirei both the Aimol villagers, out of four beaten up by Kangoi Khunou villagers, are undergoind treatment at JNIMS Hospital.

Informing that based on a complaint report a team of Tengnoupal police station had conducted spot verification, he fervently appealed to responsible organisations and major tribes/communities to enable that no ugly incidents recur in the area.

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