Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10 2010:
With the initiation of the census process, 14 villages of conflicting records have emerged.
According to reports, these villages are included in Imphal West district as per land records but pay hill house tax at Senapati.
In line with the nation-wide census exercise which was launched on April 1, a team of Lamsang Sub-Division SDO staff went to these villages with the aim to form enumerator blocks.
But the villagers drove out the officials saying that the same exercise should be done by Senapati officials.
Taking due note of this situation, an official meeting was held on April 6 which was participated by Commissioner (Home) V Vumlumang, Census Operation Director Y Thamkishore, DC Imphal West and ADC Kangpokpi.
During his presentation at the meeting, the Imphal West DC said that Tumoyon Khullen, Malkhelchel Thong, Tumnoupokpi, Thenunba, Tumoyon Khunou, Hempok, Tokpakhel, Keithelmanbi, Khuirem Tampak, Ekpal Khunou, Ekpal Khullen, Kuraopokpi, Kangpokpi and Kangpokpi Bazar are included in Imphal West as per land records.
These villages paid land revenue to Lamsang SDO and Sekmai SDO.
The Kangpokpi ADC contradicted the DC saying these villages are within Saitu and Kangpokpi Assembly constituencies and that the villagers paid hill house tax to SDO Kangpokpi and Saparmeina.
Though land records of these villagers are with Imphal West district, these villages are under the district administration of Senapati.
Head count and collection of other relevant data at these villages were done by officials of Senapati district during the 2001 census, the ADC pointed out.
As the uncertainty about administrative boundary between the two districts cannot be settled, the meeting agreed to refer to village lists of earlier census reports as well as electoral maps before taking any definite decision.