Kukis rally for 'tribal land rights'
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, March 12 2023: Protest rallies against the N Biren-led BJP Government's alleged injustice towards the tribal land rights and policies were widely held on March 10 in Kuki inhabited districts of the State.

Despite the prohibitory orders issued by the concerned district administra- tions, the rallies were reportedly carried out in Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul, Jiribam, Tameng-long, and Tengnoupal apart from other Kuki-inhabited areas and at New Delhi peacefully but the rally at Kangpokpi turned violent when security forces stopped the mammoth rallyists to proceed further for handing over of a memorandum addressed to the Governor at DC office, Kangpokpi.

Kukis rally for 'tribal land rights'

To control and disperse the mammoth crowd participating in the rally, security forces started firing tear gas shells but the situation turned otherwise as the crowd reiterated by pelting stones at security forces.

The tear gas shells fired to disperse the mob were mostly expired while many empty cases of live bullets were also found on the roadside.

The confrontations culminated after Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi district leaders were allowed to hand over the memorandum at DC Office Kangpokpi.

The memorandum addressed to the Governor of Manipur was received by Addl District Magistrate/ADC Kangpokpi.

Thangminlen Kipgen, Vice President, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District while speaking to the media said that the tribal populations of Manipur have been subjected to various discrimination and subjugation in the forms of Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, Protected Sites, Wildlife Sanctuaries, MLR Act, etc.

"Even though Article 19 of the Indian Constitution gives us the right to assemble peacefully to show our grievances and opposition to the act of the incumbent Government, we were denied the same right by imposing prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC which was uncalled for", he added.

The rallyists at Kangpokpi held placards which read, "Respect Tribal Land Rights & Chief Rights", "Respect the Customary Rights of the tribals", "We want legal probe into the processes followed for declaration of RF, PF, etc.", "Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Wild Life Sanctuary without our consent is not acceptable", "Respect and honour Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution", "Scheduled matters under article 371 (C) should rightfully be under HAC", "Stop hiring valley based CSOs/police to forcefully enter into the scheduled hill areas of Manipur", "Stop harassment of bonafide Indian citizens in the name of enquiry/investigation", "Stop discrimination and intimidation against the tribals", "Settle land issues first before carrying out any illegal and forceful eviction", "Respect private bonafide land ownership", "Can a scheduled land be notified as a khas land?", "Justice for unconstitutional and illegal treatment against the tribals", "Compensate those who are unconstitutionally evicted under section 41 of RFCTLARR Act 2013", "repeal Manipur Forest Rules 2021, Art.

76(d)", "GoI should intervene to protect our land rights", "where is Art.

371(c)??? Is it in ICU???", etc.

In the memorandum submitted to Governor Anusaiya Uikey through the DC Kangpokpi, the Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi highlighted various grievances of the tribal village chiefs and villagers and sought her intervention against Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, Protected Sites, Wildlife Sanctuaries, extension of Land Revenue in the Scheduled Hill Areas of Manipur and show cause notice issued to Scheduled Hill Areas and tribal villages of Manipur by Forest Department for eviction drive.

It continued that "the tribals of Manipur have always been the rightful land-holders since colonial times and as such, it would not be amiss to label the community as no less than being sons of the soil" while adding "our customs and traditions are passed down orally and therefore, our conventional system has no written script.

However, there are certain Government notifications and orders which have recognized the existence of many tribal villages of which proper records are maintained", it added.

The allegation that continuous expansion or establishment of new villages over Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, and Wildlife Sanctuaries is also vehemently denied.

It may be submitted here that those new villages (Hamlets) are established within the scheduled Hill areas of parent Villages of Manipur, either by following customs and tradition or legitimately.

It is wrong to say that new villages were established over or within reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Hence, any attempt to evict villages must be done in accordance with the law of the land prevailing and for the time being in force, the memorandum added.