Jessami blames Meluri of violating Hohos' directives
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2012: The Jessami Village Council has blamed Meluri villagers of violating the directives of two Hohos �Tangkhul Naga Long and Pochury Public Forum, in connection with the land dispute between Meluri and Jessami Village.

According to a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of Jessami Village Council, Ayete Wezah and Nipekhwe Lohe, both Meluri and Jessami Village Council agreed that the dispute between the two villages should be decided by PPF and TNL after consulting both the Villages in matters pertaining to the land dispute.

They also further agreed upon to reaffirm the two directives � Nov 23, 2011 by TNL and PPF and April 21, 2012 by Ukhrul and Phek DC along with the two Hohos which directed that Meluri Village Guards should not move about with arms.

The meeting of the two Hohos with the two disputing Villages continued peacefully from May 3 till May 23.However, before any solution could be reached by the two Hohos, the Meluri Village Council refused to come to survey the remaining boundary at Yessa Mulu and Tizu river on May 24 as was scheduled by the two Hohos, the JVC statement pointed out.

A bridge at the border village of Jessami

The Jessami people felt humiliated at their refusal but still awaited for a peaceful solution.

'On May 28, Meluri people, taking the advantage of our adherence to the orders of the two Hohos, armed with SBBL guns and daos under the protection of some miscreant with SLR guns in full combat military uniform and 303 armed Village guards cross over the disputed area till 4 km from Jessami and seized the cell phone of a poor cowherd of Jessami village at the same spot (which was later returned), tried to set fire in the jungle, heaped and erected stones as well as hoist red cloth in several places in undisputed areas which we assume as claiming our land,' the Jessami VC statement alleged.

It further charged that they also slashed all yongchak trees at a farm and burnt a hut and 24 stacks of fire woods that were collected in different undisputed places by the people of Jessami.

Seeing the action of the Meluri people the irritated youth of Jessami got ready to retaliate the action.

However, the Officer Incharge of Jessami police Station pacified the angry youth and went to the spot to see the matter with his guards and urged the Border Security Force stationed at Akash Bridge to prevent such action of the Meluri people so that the peaceful talk between the two villages is not disturbed, it stated.

Urging the people of Meluri villagers to abstain from such activities so as to bring amicable solution on the disputed areas under the two concern Hohos, the statement also added that no frisking or harassing of travellers were carried out by the Jessami people and guaranteed that no such act will be meted out to any one in future unless we are provoked further to take such a drastic step for safety.