REJOINDER TO THE CLAIMS OF THE KONSAKHUL VILLAGE AUTHORITY AND VARIOUS LIANGMEI BODIES
Apropos the various allegations and claims made by the Konsakhul Village Authority and Various Liangmei civil bodies regarding the recent inter-village feud that erupted on 26th March 2023 and the consequent incidents that followed, the Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority hereby states the few facts so that the public is not misled by the false and fabricated allegations and claims.
The unfortunate conflict erupted because of misunderstanding arising due to the destruction of fencing erected for the purpose of rearing Mithun/Sandang by Leilon Area Siel (Mithun) Society (LASS) in which both the communities are members. Without proper fencing, the brunt of the Mithun is faced by both the communities as it used to destroy agricultural plantations at Duhlian Khumman (which is solely a reserved land for agriculture by both parties). As to curb the menace of the Mithun, 5 (five) villages (Leilon Vaiphei Khul, Leilon Khunnou, Konsakhul, L. Phaijang (Haraothel) in its joint meeting dated 24.3.2001 at the residence of Konsakhul Chief with Lamthanang @ AB Kabe as Chairman and Pasei Vaiphei as Secretary reached an agreement with regards to the rearing of Mithun. However, the fencing erected by the Society was destroyed by the Konsakhul Villagers in which Mr. Lungenbou s/o Dirangbou of Konsakhul was known to have been actively involved. As informed by members of the LASS the said person is notorious for illegally shooting and killing mithuns reared within the demarcated area and destroying of fences. The culprits involved in destroying of fences were summoned by the society a number of times for discussion. After they failed to turn up; on the fateful day of March 26th 2023, Mr. Lungenbou and his colleague were stopped on their way to their village at Leilon Vaiphei village for discussion. As he failed to response to the peaceful approach of the society, the agitated members broke the glasses of JCB excavator in which he was seated and handed over he and his colleague to Leimakhong Police Station as the law requires. The allegation of abduction and brutal assault is baseless. The destruction of the JCB excavator window panes which belonged to Edal Singh r/o Singjamei, Imphal was out of anger and misunderstanding at that moment. An amicable solution was already brought between the Leilon Area Siel (Mithun/Sandang) Society and the JCB owner on 30th March, 2023. Mention may be made that the tradition of rearing mithun is an age-old practice of the Leilon Vaiphei Village. Mithun is an integral part of the identity, culture, and tradition of the Vaipheis and efforts must be made to ensure their preservation and sustainable management.
Contrary to the claim of Leilon villagers attacking the Konsakhul villagers and injuring them, the fact is that it was the Konsakhul villagers who attacked the Leilon Villagers twice on 28th March (Tuesday) intruding into the village with sticks, stones, knives, and catapults and destroying barricades, houses, and properties of the Leilon Vaiphei villagers. Many villagers were injured in the attack, with some requiring medical attention. They also attacked the chief’s residence with an attempt to murder the chief, destroying some part of the house and property. The Leilon village authority vehemently condemn the heinous crime and appeal to the concern authority to book the culprits according to the law of the land.
Against the allegations made regarding the obstruction of pilgrims from Imphal, no such incident ever happened. It was just a way of seeking false sympathy from the brethren from the valley. Further, the allegation that Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream), which they claimed to be the source of water for consumption by the valley people being polluted, is baseless as the actual water source is Singda stream (Vabom Luipi) and not Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream). Tuipet gom (Tagiu stream) is also properly fenced by the LASS, so that the stream is not polluted by the reared mithuns. Contrary to their allegation, it is the Konsakhul villagers who actually polluted the Singda stream, which is meant for consumption of the valley people, by opening a picnic spot at the said stream near their village.
The claim made by Konsakhul Village Authority of Leilon Vaiphei Village being a tenant of Konsakhul with the latter paying one Kaluang (sangbai) of paddy per household per annum to Konsakhul Village Chief according to the land lease agreement (supposed to be dated 12th October 1920) is baseless. With a glance, every educated and normal human being will know that the document itself is a concocted one. The Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority is ready to stand against the said document, and if need be, to go for forensic testing or carbon dating to test its genuineness. Further, no oral or written history of the Leilon Vaiphei village ever had any payment of paddy as a tenant.
Leilon Vaiphei village is a historical village with a unique history and records. The village already had 37 hill house tax-paying households (Rs. 3 per house) way back in 1917-18. The claim of the Konsahul Village Authority that “In 1950 there was only one Kuki village called Leilon” is also a lack of knowledge of history of the area on their part. Contrary to their claim there were 5 (Five) Kuki/Kom villages before 1950s and only 1 (One) Kacha Naga village in the said area as per Manipur State Hill Peoples (Regulation) Act 1947, Sadar Circle (Centre Circle) No. 1. The villages are Kharam Vaiphei (23 houses) Kharam Thadoi (08 houses) Leilon Waiphei (62 Houses) Leilon Waiphei Khonou (17 houses) Karakhun – P. Moulding (13 houses) and Konsa Kacha Naga (16 houses).Leilon Waiphei Khonou was customarily created for the younger brother by the elder brother, the chief of Leilon Vaiphei for administrative convenience with the increased of population. Therefore, giving the term ‘illegal immigrant’ to the age-old settlers whose households were already five times higher than them way back in the independence time (1947) may do injustice to the term itself. They (Konsakhul Village Authority) may, if they wish, recheck the meaning of the term and improve their understanding of it. Furthermore, the whole Leilon Area was recently declared a poppy free zone/village by concern police station and environmental protection and preservation of biodiversity is taken up in full gusto by the people of the area. The false allegations should attract legal penalties according to the relevant law of the land.
The issue is an inter-village feud, and therefore, the communal tension and fuss created by Konsakhul Village Authority and various Liangmei civil bodies is uncalled for. When ways to solve the issue are looked upon by the concern authority it is unfortunate that some civil society organisations engaged themselves in rallies, shouting slogans which has no historical base, instigating communal tensions, disturbing the peace process. The government must look into these false and misleading slogans that could disturb the peaceful co-existence of the people of the state.
The Leilon Vaiphei Villagers, as a peace-loving community, appreciate the initiatives taken up by the government agencies and various civil and religious society organisations to maintain peace and understanding among the people and their endeavours to bring an amicable solution to the issue.
Leilon, Dated: 31st March, 2023
(HAOMINLEN VAIPHEI)
Secretary,
Leilon Vaiphei Village Authority
Kangpokpi District, Manipur
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