'Illegal claims' of village sub headman of Sihai Khunou refuted
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, January 09 2024:
The age-old dispute over the legal sub-headmanship of Sihai Khunou village has apparently revived following a fresh claim of legal headmanship made by Joseph Shimray, a sub headman of the same village where the practice of dual sub-headmanship has been existing for years.
Qr Wungmaso Horam, one of the current sub headmen, has strongly refuted this claim, and expressed discontentment over the alleged biased attitude of the Ukhrul District Administration in the matter.
Briefing media persons during a press conference at Winotang in Ukhrul town today, Horam clarified that Sihai Khunou village, which falls under Sihai Khullen village, has two sub-headmen under the overall legal headman of Qr Luingam KAS.
He said that the current dispute began when Joseph Shimray, the other sub-headman, started pursuing legal headmanship covertly by going against the principles of dual sub-headmanship that had existed for years in the village.
Horam stated that Shimray's actions go against the age-old practices of the village as he has no legal and public mandate to seek legal headmanship and added that the residents of Sihai Khunou have always followed the principles of dual sub-headmanship for years.
Adding to the villagers' concerns is the recent notification issued by the Ukhrul District administration and pointed out that the notification, which was signed by Ukhrul DC Zuringla Kengoo and published in a local newspaper on December 22, 2023, invited objections regarding the legal headmanship claim of Joseph Shimray, giving a mere 15-day deadline.
Horam maintained that the short deadline was intentionally set to make it difficult for the villagers to submit their objections within the given time amid the Christmas celebrations.
He then urged the District Administration to look into the matter seriously so as to bring about a peaceful settlement of the matter, taking into account the age-old traditional practices of the village.