Chingjaroi VA refutes Kharasom's claims
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Mamang

Ukhrul, February 20 2023: The village authority of three Chingjaroi habitations in northern Ukhrul district has categorically refuted Kharasom's claims regarding the recent stand-off between the two neighbouring villages over a long-standing land dispute, calling the same 'misleading'.

In this regard, AS Solomon, AS Raizar and AS Ngazek, the three village chiefs of Chingjaroi Khullen, Chingjaroi CV and Ngachaphung, held a press conference at Hotel Iceland, Wino bazar in Ukhrul town here on Monday, Addressing the press meet, AS Solomon said that it was the Kharasom villagers, who first provoked the youths of Chingjaroi, resulting in the heated confrontation that broke out between the two sides on February 16, but not as claimed by Kharasom villagers.

On the main cause of the prevailing tension between the two villages, he contended that the land ownership of Chingjaroi village had been challenged by the Kharasom villagers, who were granted with the perpetual rights to have free and perpetual rights of cultivation, wood cutting and timber extraction within the territorial limits of Chingjaroi village.

On the day of the incident, the village folks of Chingjaroi went to a site called Khubor within their ancestral territory to gather timber/firewood in order to raise funds for the village's upcoming Golden Jubilee celebration, he related.

When they arrived at the site, some Kharasom youths armed with SBBL firearms and knives were there already positioned for an ambush, and started inciting the Chingjaroi youth by shouting abusive words while one of the youths began to load his gun.

This enraged the youths from Chingjaroi, who then proceeded to chase the armed youths of Kharasom down to their village (Kharasom), he claimed.

"It was also the Kharasom people, who started a bush fire right below where the Chingjaroi youths were working," he continued, adding that as if all of these provocations were not enough, Kharasom villagers misled the district administration with fabricated, incorrect information, generating unnecessary confusion, fear and apprehension to the general public, which resulted in the imposition of 144 CrPc at the two villages.

He pointed out that due to its lesser population, Kharasom village has been desperately trying to discredit Chingjaroi s traditional ownership of the land by using various victimhood and minority card tactics for years.

Solomon stated that the present Kharasom is one of the three Tangkhul villages including Namrei and Razai villages, which were provided refuge/shelter by Chingjaroi village during the head hunting era.

These villages were authorised settlement inside Chingjaroi village's geographical jurisdiction to act as a sentinel/bulwark for Chingjaroi village against the other warring/head hunting villages.

However, with the passage of time, Kharasom village began claiming ownership of the land allowed to them for occupation by Chingjaroi village, resulting in the initiation of several rounds of litigation before several courts of law, he lamented.

He mentioned that in 1911, the then President of Manipur State Durbar passed a court decision in Civil Case No.76 of 1910-11, which clearly stated that the boundary between Chingjaroi village and Kharasom village shall be at 'Layi Khuman' (originally Layi Khulman, a location far beyond the settlement site of Kharasom village towards Jessami village) .

In 1937, SJ Duncan, the then SDO (executive magistrate), issued an administrative order stating categorically that the "boundary of Chingjaroi would remain the Khuman" (as laid down in Civil Case no 76 of 1910-11) .

He reiterated that the Order also granted Kharasom village "perpetual right" to cultivate, cut wood, and extract timber, among other things.

This provision, as the name implies, is a permit granted to Kharasom for the use of natural resources to meet their basic livelihood needs and does not grant any rights on their land ownership.

The same order that made it very clear that "they (Kharasom) may not dispose of the land or any portion of it with out Chingjaroi's consent and the state's approval" is clear proof of Chingjaroi's land ownership.

The title of ownership was established by an order of the president of Manipur State Durbar in 1911, and it was re-affirmed by the then SDO SJ Duncan in 1937, he stated.

AS Raizar claimed that six rounds of talks between the two villages had been held and attempts were being made to seek the best possible solution mutually acceptable to both sides since last year.

As no solution had been found, the two parties agreed to maintain the status quo for the time being, but then the people of Kharasom defied the mutually agreed-upon condition and began cutting wood from the disputed area, he said.

Chingjaroi is one of the oldest villages in Ukhrul district located about 65 km north of Ukhrul town with a huge geographical area bordering seven Tangkhul Naga villages and Poumai Naga villages of Senapati district.

Originally, Chingjaroi shared its boundary with Jessami in the north, Tusom in the north-east, Chingai in the east and south-east, Marem and Paoyi (Peh) in the south, and with clear river demarcation, Chingjaroi shared boundary with Poumai villages (Ngan, Phaibung, Chingmai, Layi) in the south, south-west, west and north-west.

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