Kangpokpi, July 9: The Chawangkining Village Authority has raised serious allegations against three unrecognized Kuki settlements, Khollen, Saikot, and West Haipi, accusing them of illegally encroaching into the legally demarcated jurisdiction of Chawangkining Naga Village in Kangpokpi District.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the village authority condemned the erection of unauthorized signboards and stone markers by the settlements, which it claims falsely assert ownership over Chawangkining land. One such stone marker allegedly claims the village was established in 1980, a statement the Chawangkining authority has strongly refuted, citing official records and ground verification which show no households existed in the area before Chawangkining was formally recognized by the Manipur government in 2002.
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The press note also highlighted concerns over the settlement of West Haipi, which it claims was arbitrarily renamed and repositioned within Chawangkining’s territory after the death of a local Kuki leader from a different village. The village authority argues that this move lacked any legal recognition or official sanction.
Adding to the concerns, the Chawangkining authority alleged that these unrecognized villages continue to receive government benefits and development assistance by misrepresenting their status as recognized villages to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi. The press release termed this as a “fraudulent practice” that not only causes administrative confusion but also deprives rightful beneficiaries in recognized villages of government schemes and resources.
The Villate authority has called on the district administration and concerned authorities to take immediate steps, including an impartial ground verification, halting the misuse of public resources, and upholding the legal and territorial rights of Chawangkining Village.
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“I firmly believe that justice will prevail,” stated Ch. Wisobou, Chairman of Chawangkining Village Authority, urging swift action to restore peace, fairness, and order in the region.