Ancestral land claim saddens PAPPM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 07 2022: The People's Alliance for Peace and Progress, Manipur (PAPPM) has said that the organisation, which is dedicated towards working for peace and progress in Manipur, was saddened by recent developments whereby various tracts of land of Manipur are being claimed as ancestral land by some groups of people claiming to represent the Kuki tribe.

While maintaining that Manipur is the ancestral land of all those who built the civilization and erstwhile kingdom of Manipur with their blood and sweat, a PAPPM statement said that the claim of Thangjing hills as ancestral land by some student groups claiming to represent Kuki tribe was unfounded and unacceptable.

Thadou-Kuki tribes are well known to move continuously from one place to another until they reach a safer place to settle.

There are historical records of the community migrating from Kale Kabaw - Mythia valley to Chin Hills and then to Lushai Hills and Cachar plains looking for safer places.

They finally reached the territory of Manipur during the reign of Maharaja Narsing (1844-1850), when there was mass exodus from Lushai hills and Cachar plains due to persecution.

Maharaja Narsing gave them shelter in Manipur by giving land free of cost.

The Maharaja was assisted by the then British Political Agent McCulloch in this task.

They were also employed in the Manipur Army, thus becoming good subjects of Manipur.

The migration of Kuki-Chin Tribes in Manipur continued even after independence.

There are official records indicating that some of them were settled in Manipur as refugees to escape persecution from the then Burmese authorities.

All the documents and historical writings establish the fact that Thadou Kuki tribes have come to reside in Manipur as outsiders seeking a safe place to live.

Therefore, it is quite strange that some hilly tracts of Manipur are being claimed as their ancestral land by some organisations belonging to Kuki tribes of Manipur.

This is quite evident from the recent claim of Thangjing Range as ancestral land of Kuki tribe, PAPPM said in the statement.

According to PAPPM, Thangjing hill is a sacred place for all the people of Manipur, who have toiled throughout the ages to build a civilization and the erstwhile kingdom of Manipur.

The erstwhile kingdom of Manipur which existed prior to the merger to Dominion of India in 1949 is well recorded in written history for more than two thousand years.

The erstwhile Kingdom with Kangla as capital was built with the blood and sweat of people settled in Imphal valley, Kabaw valley, Cachar valley along with the various indigenous hill tribes residing in surrounding hills, it said, adding that PAPPM also believes firmly that the valley settlers came down from their original settlement in surrounding hills and mountains besides some groups of people migrating from other parts of Asia.

Being ancestor worshippers, original settlers of Manipur still firmly believe that the mountain tops like Koubru, Thangjing and Nongmaiching are their sacred places, being the abode of their ancestors and go for pilgrimage every year.

In this context, claim of Thangjing Hills as exclusive ancestral land by some groups of people who came from outside and settled in Manipur is very mischievous and is intended to disturb social harmony in Manipur.

This incident also exposes the very fact that some groups of people are taking advantage of the non-existence of land use policy in the state to claim vast tracts of land which belong to the whole people of Manipur.

In the light of the above facts, PAPPM strongly feels that immediate steps are necessary to prevent future occurrence of any conflict based on land issues.

The PAPPM also drew attention of Prime Minister of India, Union home minister and Manipur chief minister on the need for formulation of a land use policy for the whole state of Manipur, legislation allowing all original settlers of Manipur state to buy land and settle in any part of the state without legal restriction.

The organisation also strongly pushed for identification, detection and deportation of those who are not Indian citizens.

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