Leilon Vaiphei village negates Konsakhul claims
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 31 2023: Reacting to the several claims and allegations made by the Konsakhul Village Authority and many Liangmai civil bodies, the Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority has asserted that there is no oral or written history of Leilon Vaiphei village ever paying paddy as tenant to Konsakhul village.

The unfortunate conflict that erupted on March 26 was because of a misunderstanding arising due to destruction of fencing erected for the purpose of rearing Mithun/Sandang by Leilon Area Siel (Mithun) Society (LASS) in which both the communities are members, said a statement issued by Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority secretary Haominlen Vaiphei.

Without proper fencing, the brunt of the Mithun is faced by both the communities as it used to destroy agricultural plantations at Duhlian Khumman (which is a reserved land for agriculture by both parties) .

However, the fencing erected by the LASS was destroyed by the Konsakhul villagers in which Lungenbou s/o Dirangbou of Konsakhul was known to have been actively involved.

As informed by members of the LASS, the said person is notorious for illegally shooting and killing mithuns reared within the demarcated area and destroying of fences, it alleged.

The culprits involved in destroying the fences were summoned by the society a number of times for discussion.

After they failed to turn up; on the fateful day of March 26, Lungenbou and his colleague were stopped on their way to their village at Leilon Vaiphei village for discussion.

As he failed to respond to the peaceful approach of the society, the agitated members broke the glasses of JCB excavator in which he was seated, and he and his colleague were handed over to Leimakhong police station as the law required.

The allegation of abduction and brutal assault is baseless, it said.

The destruction of the excavator's window panes which belonged to Edal Singh of Singjamei, Imphal was out of anger and misunderstanding at that moment.

An amicable solution was already brought between the Leilon Area Siel (Mithun/Sandang) Society and the JCB owner on March 30, 2023 .

Contrary to the claim of Leilon villagers attacking the Konsakhul villagers and injuring them, the fact is that it was the Konsakhul villagers who attacked the Leilon Villagers twice on 28th March (Tuesday) intruding into the village with sticks, stones, knives, and catapults and destroying barricades, houses, and properties of the Leilon Vaiphei villagers.

Many villagers were injured in the attack, with some requiring medical attention.

They also attacked the chief's residence with an attempt to murder the chief, destroying some part of the house and property.

"The Leilon Village Authority vehemently condemns the heinous crime and appeal to the concerned authority to book the culprits according to the law of the land", it demanded.

With regard to the allegation of obstructing pilgrims from Imphal, no such incident ever happened.

It was just a way of seeking false sympathy from the brethren from the valley, it said.

Further, the allegation that Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream), which they claimed to be the source of water for consumption by the valley people being polluted, is baseless as the actual water source is Singda stream (Vabom Luipi), not Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream).

Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream) is also properly fenced by the LASS, so that the stream is not polluted by the reared mithuns.

Contrary to their allegation, it is the Konsakhul villagers who actually polluted the Singda stream, which is meant for consumption by the valley people, by opening a picnic spot at the said stream near their village, the Leilon Vaiphei Authority alleged.

The claim made by Konsakhul Village Authority of Leilon Vaiphei village being a tenant of Konsakhul with the latter paying one Kaluang (sangbai) of paddy per household per annum to Konsakhul Village Chief according to the land lease agreement (supposed to be dated 12th October 1920) is baseless.

With a glance, every educated and normal human being will know that the document itself is a concocted one.

The Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority is ready to stand against the said document, and if need be, and go for forensic testing or carbon dating to test its genuineness.

Further, there is no oral or written history of the Leilon Vaiphei village ever paying paddy as a tenant.

Leilon Vaiphei village is a historical village with a unique history and records.

The village already had 37 hill house tax-paying households (Rs 3 per house) way back in 1917-18 .

Contrary to the claim of the Konsakhul Village Authority that "In 1950 there was only one Kuki village called Leilon", there were five Kuki/Kom villages before 1950s and only one Kacha Naga village in the said area as per Manipur State Hill Peoples (Regulation) Act 1947, Sadar Circle (Centre Circle) No 1" .

The villages are Kharam Vaiphei (23 houses), Kharam Thadoi (8 houses), Leilon Waiphei (62 houses), Leilon Waiphei Khonou (17 houses), Karakhun P Moulding (13 houses) and Konsa Kacha Naga (16 houses). Leilon Waiphei Khonou was customarily created for the younger brother by the elder brother, the chief of Leilon Vaiphei for administrative convenience with the growth of population.

Therefore, giving the term 'illegal immigrant' to the age-old settlers whose households were already five times higher than them way back in the independence time (1947) may do injustice to the term itself.

The issue is an inter-village feud, and therefore, the communal tension and fuss created by Konsakhul Village Authority and various Liangmai civil bodies is uncalled for, it said.

When ways to solve the issue are looked upon by the concerned authority, it is unfortunate that some civil society organisations engaged themselves in rallies and shouting slogans which have no historical base, instigating communal tensions and disturbing the peace process.

The Government must look into these false and misleading slogans that could disturb the peaceful co-existence of the people of the State, it said.

The Leilon Vaiphei villagers, as a peace-loving community, appreciate the initiatives taken up by the Government agencies and various civil and religious society organisations to maintain peace and understanding among the people and their endeavours to bring an amicable solution to the issue, it added.

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