IMPHAL, October 19: The reported tension which erupted between communities of the Sandangsemba Maring and Andro yesterday was a result of the cultivation activities of the Maring villagers at an area where both the district administrations of Senapati and Imphal East have placed restriction orders under section 144 CrPC.
This was claimed by Andro Khullakpa Ch Gandhar Meitei today at the Manipur Press Club.
He said following yesterday`™s incident, the Maring villagers have threatened Andro villagers that they will not bear any responsibility if any eventualities happened along the road passing through the Maring Village.
He said in case of anyone getting injured while crossing the road considered the lifeline of Andro, the people Sandangsemba Maring Village will be held full responsible.
He claimed that the Maring community in their report which appeared in some local dailies today had wrongly identified the name of the place where the incident occurred as Chonga Loukon. Chonga Loukon comes under the jurisdiction of Huikap Village, whereas the place where the villagers of Andro had gone yesterday is known as Chafu Uppi Laimang where they have been conducting their annual traditional rituals, he said.
He further continued that some months back, villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village encroached on the said area for jhum cultivation.
This had led to tension among the two sides resulting in both the DCs of Senapati and Imphal East imposing a restriction until further notifications, he said.
He said the Andro Khullakpa Sana Pokpa Chakpa had served a letter to the DCs concerned, Sandangsemba Maring Village chief and Andro Police on June 6.
However, recently, two villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village had violated the restriction and continued their cultivations, he said.
On getting the information, villagers of Andro went to the area and damaged the cultivation yesterday and there was no political involvement, he observed.
The people of Andro will never compromise on the Chafu Uppi Laimang area at any cost as the area has been used since time immemorial for traditional rituals, he said.