The Liangmai Naga Council, Eastern Zone, Eastern Liangmai Chief Chairman Association and Ahangruak Chief Chairman Association have submitted a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Scheduled Tribe and Chief Minister N Biren Singh challenging the ‘baseless claims’ of one Thangmang Haokip (president IRHAM) pertaining to Mt Koubru.
The petitioners also sought protection and preservation of Koubru range which they said is the sacred adode of Koubo-ra (The lord of Koubru).
The three Liangmai bodies urged the NSC to address the grievances of Liangmai people by recognising the rights of the indigenous Liangmai villages as a primary stakeholder in the land issue concerning Mt Koubru and making them become co-partner in the development of the proposed sacred site area of Koubo-ra and Lai Pukhri.
The petitioners also sought checking of unwanted activities such as poppy cultivation, rampant deforestation, jhum cultivation etc at Koubru mountain range and restoration of traditional villages and territories of the Liangmai indigenous tribe in and around Koubru mountain.
Eviction of illegal encroachers including the designated camps of the militants from the KK Reserved Forests within the Koubru mountain range and providing necessary protection to the indigenous population whose settlements and properties are under threat were also mentioned in the petition submitted to the PM.Â
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)