Seijang clarifies, appeals for calm
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 07 2013:
Clarifying that Seijang villagers neither have any misgivings against the neighbouring Silent villagers nor any intention to drive them away from their original place of settlement, Seijang Development committee and Seijang Progressive Youth made a fervent appeal to all concerned, especially NGOs, not to give a communal tone to the May 3 incident.
Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club today, Development committee convenor L Rajendro called upon Silent villagers to respect existing inter-village boundary in order to restore confidence and sustain decades old cordial relationships between the two villages.
Affirming that Seijang villagers are determined to protect its land inherited from the forefathers, the convenor also regretted that no individual from Silent village showed up at the May 5 joint meeting with the Chief Minister on the said issue.
Besides the CM and some seijang villagers, the May 5 meeting was reportedly attended by MLAs Victor Keishing, Yamthong Haokip and Ksh Biren of Phungyar, Saikul and Lamlai ACs respectively with members of the United Naga Council, Naga Hoho, ANSAM and TKS representing Silent village.
Stating that Seijang representatives confided to the Chief Minister about strong possibility of the land dispute settled amicably and sorting out any misunderstanding between the two neighbouring villages had responsible Silent villagers attended the joint meeting, Rajendro also claimed to have urged the NGOs present at the occasion not to indulge in or encourage any activity that could create misunderstanding between the two villages.
Regarding the boundary issue, the convenor said that a decision in the then Manipur State Darbur of 1932 conferred ownership right of Seijang Uyok Ching, flanked by Naibi river on the North, Soijen Singpham Lok (gorge) on the south, Nongmangkha Lok on the East and the valley stretch on the West, to seijang villagers.
Settlement in the present-day Silent village began after the erstwhile village chief namely Maipilen purchased the land in 1962 from a Kuki chief called Ngamkhulun with the original dwellers mostly migrating from Phungyar and Kasom Khullen areas, Rajendro detailed along with confiding that Seijang villagers possess documents of a joint meeting on demarcation of boundaries between neighbouring villages.
The said meeting held in 1965 was attended by representatives of Seijang, Silent and other adjacent villages, he maintained with the contention that soon after the joint meeting there was a sudden spurt in the population of Silent village along with the addition of about 30 more clans.
With the increase in population and subsequent expansion of Silent village encroachment upon Seijang areas started gradually from 1967 onward, contended the convenor further claiming that an initial land dispute case between Silent and Seijang villages was settled by a lower court in favour on the latter.
Despite Silent village approaching the High Court on the same land dispute issue, the first and second appeals also went in favour of Seijang, recounted Rajendro and conveyed that present Silent village chief Hongbhrang s/o Maipilen reopened the case at the court of CJM, Kangpokpi in 2007 .
With the case transferred to the court of Sessions Judge, Imphal West and a consequent injunction order passed on April 19, 2013 decrying that status quo of Seijang village boundaries, including Seijang Uyok Ching, should be maintained, Silent village authority was advised not to encroach or construct structures/houses in areas demarcated as land of Seijang village, Rajendro highlighted.
Seijang Development Committee president Ng Bhimo, executive member h Gouro and Seijang Progressive Youth Club president H Tombi were also present at the media briefing.
Comment
