IMPHAL, Oct 14: While condemning the act of uprooting and destroying a sign board which read Senjam Khunou and Senjam Chirang by some unidentified persons suspected to be Kuki villagers settled on the Haraoching hills, Irungbam Ranjan, joint secretary Senjam Khunou Senjam Chirang Joint Development organization, has today declared that any follow up incident should be the sole responsibility of the perpetrators in case they failed to erect the signboard at the same location by October 17.
Speaking to media persons at a press conference conveyed today at the Manipur Press Club, Ranjan disclosed that the sign board was put up on October 3 but unfortunately it was uprooted and left destroyed on the intervening night of October 5 and 6.
Expressing anguished over one sided goodwill mission of Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen who visited only Haraoching village instead of meeting both parties, Ranjan also condemned the MLA for stating that a face-off exists amongst the two communities regarding the present situation which was published in various local dailies on October 13.
He has also added that there is no confrontation or any communal feelings amongst the residents of the area other than asking for the erection of the sign board.
Ranjan however appreciated the call of the Saitu MLA to take the issue up to the chief minister level adding that the organization had already submitted a memorandum to the chief minister on the matter.
Regarding the disputed land, Ranjan claimed that a legal case is running as of the moment between his organization and the Government of Manipur,. He also said the organization had already filed a writ petition to the Gauhati High Court regarding the upgrading of the disputed land to the status of a revenue land.
He has further added that on November 9, 2009 the judge had directed the state revenue department an interim order to survey the disputed area on which the department has submitted its survey report on September 24 this year, which was unsatisfactory and as such his organization has put up a rejoinder to the high court again.
