Society claims ownership over disputed land
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 27 2014: Referring to the land dispute of Ikop Pat, Thoubal district which is said to be home to different sacred sites of sylvan deity Ikop Ningthou Maru Nongshaba, the Uchiwa Khelakhong Awang Leikai Co-llective Farming Cooperative Society Ltd has categorically stated that the particular area was de-reserved about 30 years back and it was allotted to the society.

Speaking to media persons at Khelakhong community hall today, MV Basir Rah-man, a member of the society, said that the society possesses jamabandi (official land ownership deed) of the particular area.

During all these long years, not a single villager of Uchiwa Wangma and Uchiwa Hayel ever said that the particular area was a sacred site.

Basir Rahman went on to challenge if any one can produce any evidence of perfor- ming Lai Haraoba rituals at the particular area at any point of time.

The society was registered in 1981-82 and due notification was published in news- papers inviting objections in case anybody wished to.

Moreover, elders of the surrounding villages of Ikop Pat namely Khalibob, Tentha, Hayel Hangoon, Leishang-them and Uchiwa jointly demarcated their respective areas, Basir said.

Suddenly on May 25, around 100 people came to Ikop Pat and sent back all the farmers who were tilling paddy fields.

From the side of the society, around 30/40 elders were sent to solve the matter amicably.

But they were chased by the people of Uchiwa with ulterior motive, Basir said while admitting that a few rounds of shots were fired as some of them had licensed guns.

He also accused police personnel of taking side with one group.

Saying all these quarrelling villages were living together in peace, Basir said that the truth can be established by way of dialogue, debate and documents.

All Manipur Muslim Students' Organisation president Farid Khan said that Meitei Pangal have been sharing and share their roles in tackling many major issues which confronted Manipur from time to time.

Referring to a press release issued by the Kangla Khunthokyai Apunba Luplen (KAKHAL) and published in some section of local media today, Farid decried that the particular press statement hurt the sentiments of Meitei Pangals.

He also appealed to all concerned not stoke communal ill-feelings and instead work to resolve the dispute amicably.

All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee organisation secretary Md Abdul Quayum appealed to the Government to intervene and resolve the issue peacefully rather than remain as a mute spectator.

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