Aimol bodies dismiss statement of KSO Tengnoupal
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 03 2021: Aimol Tribe Union Manipur (ATUM), Aimol Students' Union Manipur (ASUM) and Aimol Women AWU) have rejected the KSO Tengnoupal's claim that the site for setting up of the 11 IRB Battalion falls under Saivom village.

In a joint release, ATUM president S Munthuireng, ASUM general secretary Kh Lalchung and AWU president Ch Leena welcomed the decision of the state cabinet to set up the headquarters of 11 IRB Battalion in the area.

They also asserted that the site belongs to Aimol as Saivom villagers have been settling in Aimol land and have no right of land ownership over Aimol land.

In the Court of Circle Officer Tengnoupal Circle (Misc Case No 236 T-M of 1947-48), Kuki chief of Saivom Village as defendant in the case had stated that Saivom villagers are living in Aimol land for many years and in practice they have been cultivating all the jhum lands looking after the hill portion of land for Aimol villages.

Aimol on the other hand have been cultivating wet rice in the plain around their villages and practically ceased to cultivate in their jhum land in the hills except occasionally harvesting eatable jungle produces, it said.

The bodies continued that the Aimols possess multiple judgment copies with regard to boundaries with neighbouring areas passed by the CO Tengnoupal K Kigpen dated August 22, 1948 with reference to Manipur State Form No 11-9 (Judicial).

Though, Saivom village had paid their house tax separately, they had no separate boundaries as the matter was clearly decided on October 9, 1958 in the Court of the EAC (H) (T Suit No 40 of 1957 on the issue No 2 & 3) of the said case.

On May 14, 1979 the complainant/objector president of Aimol had filed an objection case No 15/77 in the Court of the Forest Settlement Officer Manipur also.

In this regard, assistant settlement officer (F) Manipur had passed an order that Saivom village can utilise the land of Aimol commonly on amicable settlement with Aimol chiefs, it stated.

The Aimol bodies further appealed to the state government to look into the matter of the real ownership of the said land earmarked for setting up the 11th IRB Battalion Camp, while also demanding an enquiry into the matter.

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