Churachandpur, October 20: The village chiefs and Chairmen of Henglep Sub-Division, Churachandpur District, have issued a stern objection to the declaration of the Lailong S Community Reserved, which encompasses the jurisdiction of Lailong Lamzapau village in Henglep T.D. Block. The declaration was reportedly made by Soikhosiem Gangte (@S. Siempee Gangte) and the Forest Department, Government of Manipur, though the chiefs stated that they have not seen any official order to date. The matter surfaced through a letter sent to the Chairman and Secretary of SAMCA Henglep Block by Siempee, Lailong-S Haosa, Henglep Block, Churachandpur District dated December 14, 2023.
The chiefs described the declaration as unilateral and deceptive, asserting that it is in absolute contravention of multiple legal and customary provisions:
1. The Peace Accord signed between Lailong Suongkholal and Lailong Lamzapau villages on February 12, 1956, under Chapter IV(C) of Section 40 in the Manipur State Hill Peoples (Administration) Regulation, 1947, which prescribes a penalty of Rs. 500 for violations.
2. Section 36C(1) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. Section 3(1) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
4. Section 36D(2) of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.
5. Section 12(d) of the Manipur State Hill Peoples (Administration) Regulation, 1947.
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The statement further said that the entire jurisdiction of Lailong Lamzapau village was included without the consent or prior consultation of Paulal Thangjom, the concerned chief, even though he has held separate chiefship, jurisdiction, and ownership of land since the time of British rule in India. The chiefs stated that Thangjom was not informed, had no knowledge, and neither volunteered nor gave consent for the inclusion of his village.
Moreover, the Chairman and Secretary of Henglep Sub-Division Chief Association (HSDCA), along with the chiefs of adjoining villages such as Khanpi, Muntha, Kamkeilon, Naupanglon, Selvung, and Saichang, were not consulted and did not issue any No Objection Certificate (NOC), as they were completely unaware of the declaration.
The chiefs expressed that they were in great dismay, perturbed, and bewildered upon hearing the undisclosed announcement of the community reserve, which they described as a serious matter at this critical juncture in the state, where communal tension is high and volatile.
They urged S. Siempee Gangte and the State Authority/Forest Department to immediately withdraw, de-notify, and desist from all ongoing file procedures in the interest of the general populace before the final notification in the Manipur Gazette is publicized. They warned that any untoward eventuality would be the sole responsibility of the authorities involved.
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The HSDCA also sternly condemned Soikhosiem Gangte, the so-called Chief of Lailong S, and the concerned department in the strongest terms for deceiving neighbouring chiefs and Paulal Thangjom in particular, by allegedly handing over valuable ancestral assets and tribal land inheritance (unsurveyed) to the Forest Department.
The chiefs then reiterated their strong resentment, saying: “We are not happy at all with Soikhosiem Gangte (@S. Siempee Gangte) of Chiengkonpang village, Churachandpur District, for his deleterious, pusillanimous act and mischievous deeds to us in particular and the tribal populace in general. We consider this act as unwarranted and deceptive.”