IMPHAL, February 19: Tension erupted at Sadar Hills, Senapati district, in connection with a land dispute between New Keithelmanbi and Haibung village yesterday after four houses of Haibung village were ransacked by suspected New Keithelmanbi villagers the previous night at around 10pm.
In this connection sit-in-protest was demonstrates at Haibung village today.
According to Thongminthang Kipgen chief of Haibung, since 1978/79 the two villages settleed together peacefully in each other’s vicinity, and in celebration of this fraternal relation, on January 1,1980 the then New Keithelmanbi chief, the late Tongnang Haokip, gifted the land in the current dispute to the late Lunmang Kipgen on formal “Gift Deed”.
From 2010, when Haibung was established as a full-fledge village, opposition began mounting from New Keithelmanbi villagers. Thereafter, the recognition of the Haibung village was cancelled by Saitu/Gamphajol SDO on the quiet and this came to the notice of the village only in June 2015 when the concern SDO sent a notice to the village chief, said Thongminthang.
The very next day, for the first time, villagers of New Keithelmanbi attacked the village, Haibung Village chief told the area chief association.
While still in the midst of trying to resolve the problem between the two villages by the area chief association, some 20/30 men with arms like Iron rod, hummer, crow bar etc. again attacked the village last night and ransacked four houses, he complained.
It is very unfortunate incident for the both villages, the Haibung Village chief lamented before media persons
New Keithelmanbi village chief and Haibung village have been living together peacefully but some of the villagers, instigated by vested interests, are now trying to sabotage this fraternal alliance, added the Haibung village chief and appeal for peaceful co-existence among the two village.