Ukhurl: The Makhan (Makhen) Village Authority has strongly condemned the Manipur government’s recent decision to forcibly acquire 130 acres of tribal land for an Army settlement, sparking widespread outrage and calls for resistance from the local community.
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The decision, made during a Manipur Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on January 15, 2024, in Chandel District, has been met with fierce opposition from the residents of Makhan Liangmai Naga Village. The land in question, located contiguous to the Leimakhong Military Station, is vital farmland that the villagers have relied upon for agriculture and other allied activities for generations.
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The move, Makhan VA says involves the transfer of 130 acres of this tribal land to the Army in exchange for 74.24 acres of Defence land at the Koirengei Old Airfield, which has been transferred to the state government. The Makhan Village Authority has accused the Manipur government of attempting to seize the land without the consent of the landowners or any prior consultation, calling the decision “enormously hostile” and “anti-people.”
“This land is our livelihood,” the Village Authority stated in a press release. “We practice agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and other activities here. The government’s decision to take our land without our knowledge or agreement is both inappropriate and mind-boggling.”
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The villagers also pointed to a history of land being forcibly taken from them without compensation. In the past, 87 acres were ceded to the Leimakhong Army, and another 301 acres were acquired for the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) regional campus—none of which has been monetarily compensated by the government.
“The government’s continuous neglect of our plight is despairing and powerful,” the press release stated. “We vehemently oppose this malicious decision by the Manipur Cabinet and will resist it until the last man standing. This farmland is our soul, our bread, and our water.”
The Makhan Village Authority has called for the immediate repeal and rectification of the decision, stating that they will not accept any compensation for the land, as it represents their only means of survival. The community has vowed to continue their protest, defending their ancestral land with unwavering determination.
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