Kangpokpi: Hopes of the new year ushering in peace in the strife-torn state of Manipur have been dashed pretty quickly. To make matters worse the Naga community, which, until now, has mostly remained neutral amid the violence between Kukis and Meiteis, are also now witnessing violence against them. In an unfortunate turn of events, Konsakhul (Konsaram), a Liangmai Naga village under Kangpokpi district, has asked its tenant, Leilon Vaiphei village, to vacate their ancestral land within 15 days.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary of Manipur, the Konsakhul (Konsaram) Village Authority expressed deep outrage over a recent unfortunate incident in which a Naga woman from the village was assaulted in broad daylight at K. Lungwiram, purportedly under the orders of certain individuals from Leilon Vaiphei village, on January 7.
The Konsakhul (Konsaram) Village Authority described the incident as a gross violation of the trust and respect that had traditionally existed between the two villages.
The Konsakhul (Konsaram) village claimed that as the landlord of the land, they had allowed the Leilon Vaiphei villagers to settle on their ancestral land on humanitarian grounds as tenants. However, of late, the tenants have been indulging in anti-social activities, targeting innocent Naga villagers in the Konsaram area, showing scant regard for their generosity and kindness.
“Despite displaying our unparalleled magnanimity and forgiveness, you have crossed all limits,” the Konsakhul (Konsaram) stated in a memorandum, underscoring the breach of trust and respect between the two groups.
Henceforth, the Konsakhul Village Authority has demanded that Leilon Vaiphei vacate the land within 15 days from the issuance of the memorandum, failing which they threaten forceful eviction.
“If there is any bloodshed spilled in the process of eviction, you will be held responsible for that,” warns the village authority.
Speaking to EastMojo over a telephone interview, the secretary of Konsakhul Village Authority, said the village people (Konsakhul) had extended generosity by allowing the Leilon Vaiphei to settle as tenants on their ancestral land. However, the land lease agreement between the two communities has long expired, and they (the tenants) overstayed as per the agreement.
As per the Land Lease Agreement document obtained by EastMojo, the agreement between the two communities was signed on October 12, 1920, when the landlord agreed to lease his property located in Aguang Keng for 100 years.
“That the landlord and the tenant of the stated parties have mutually accepted this agreement to establish a hamlet of Vaiphei within the traditional boundary of Konsakhul,” mentioned the Land Lease Agreement.
Narrating the historical genesis of the agreement, Pourambou informed that initially, three persons from the Kuki community came to settle in the village in 1920. At that time, there were around seven to ten households only in Konsakhul, and our ancestors did not think that such land disputes would arise in the future, he lamented.
The village leader also claimed that over the years, nine more new Vaiphei hamlets have mushroomed out of Leilon Vaiphei without the consent of the Konsakhul villagers, and Leilon Vaiphei village itself has around 200 households.
On the other hand, the total number of households in Konsakhul Part 1 and Konsakhul Part 2 is only over 100, he said.
He also informed that the Leilon Vaiphei village has been living under the Konsakhul land for ages, paying taxes either in cash or paddies; however, they have stopped paying the taxes for a long time.
While highlighting the challenges faced by the Nagas in the ongoing conflict in Manipur, Pourambou stated that the recent incident is a culmination of a series of grievances faced by the villagers.
“Each time we go to Imphal or come back to the village, our villagers and other neighboring Naga villages have to cross at least eight gates, including two Army check-posts, and we are compelled to do an entry at each checkpoint,” said the Naga villager.
“It is not right when the two communities are fighting, and we Nagas have to suffer because of the conflict,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Joint Tribes Students Association (JTSA) and Foothill Naga Joint Action Committee have strongly condemned the recent incident and termed it an unwarranted and violent action perpetrated by Kuki volunteers against innocent Liangmai Naga individuals at K. Lungwiram (Konsaram) on January 7.
The JTSA, in a statement, questioned the involvement of refugees in a matter of a private owner’s legitimate activities. The leveling of the plot has no relation to the present conflicts of the state. The rightful owner (Konsaram 2) has every liberty to work on their land without seeking permission from anyone, it stated.
It further stated that the construction work of K. Lungwiram (Konsaram) will continue smoothly and demanded the perpetrators surrender themselves to the people of Konsaram. Failure to comply will lead to serious consequences, where the Kuki community will be held responsible, it cautioned.
The Kuki-Zo response
Following an eviction order issued by the Konsakhul village, the chief of Leilon Khunou village, Haopu Vaiphei, has formally reported the incident to the Kangpokpi SP, urging immediate intervention from authorities to prevent further escalation.
As per the formal report, Aimson Abonmai, a resident of Konsakhul village, and others allegedly conducted land leveling activities near L. Munlai on January 6. The report also claimed that the work carried out using heavy machinery was done without the consent of the landowner, which falls under the jurisdiction of Leilon Khunou village.
“This activity has created chaos and disturbed the community peace and harmony in the area. If left unattended, it could lead to misunderstanding and bloodshed,” Vaiphei stated in a letter to the Kangpokpi SP.
Likewise, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) on Thursday urged the Liangmai Nagas and those organizations in Manipur to desist and refrain from publicizing any unverified or concocted narratives in the press or social media platforms to inflame hatred or animosity between the two tribal communities. Any untoward incidents that may arise will be the sole responsibility of the Liangmai Naga of Manipur.
CoTU stated that any organizations on behalf of Liangmai Nagas in the state may desist themselves from inflaming ideas of discord or misunderstanding between the two tribal communities with misplaced information and concocted narratives in the press or social media platforms.
“Any issue arising out of land boundary disputes between two villages, i.e., Leilon and Konsakhul villages, should be resolved between the two chiefs/stakeholders and not through any communal platforms. Such village-level issues should not be given a communal space,” it stated.
The CoTU also cautioned that the Liangmai Nagas of Manipur should not misunderstand their meekness in response to every press release against the Kuki-Zo community, “victims of religious and ethnic persecution from the majoritarian Meitei community, but rather understand that we, as a tribal community in the erstwhile state of Manipur, have been defending our rights against oppression and tyranny on our culture and values and protecting our land from aggression for the past nearly two years.”
“The Nagas of Manipur, who are neutral in this ensuing communal conflict, must uphold their good Samaritan nature and stringently act upon those in their fraternity, like the Liangmai bodies, who are hell-bent on destroying the overall neutral stance taken by the Naga communities of Manipur and oversee the safety and security of public commuters plying through their dominated areas, which has become the only lifeline for the Kuki-Zo and not otherwise,” it added.
Also Read: Why this Naga from Myanmar had to flee to Thailand
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