IT Desk
Imphal, May 11:
An organisation called International Human Rights Association (IHRA), which was never heard voicing for the cause of Human Rights of even the various ethnic people of the state or for any cause of violation of Human Rights issues not only in the country but also for any issue related to the world community, in a press statement tried to malign the authentic news report published in this news paper (Imphal Times) on May 9 , 2021 issue under the heading “ Whole of Mount Koubru Range was declared as Reserved Forest Area”.
Reacting to the news report, the so call IHRA stated that “there was no such record of reserved forest in and around 1968 by the name ‘KK Reserved Forest’ in the pre-statehood of Manipur. It is artificial and designed as similar to be true to be believed by the innocent people for buying their trust for the next general election purpose only”. In this regard Imphal Times, once again reiterates that the declaration of KK Reserved Forest area published in the Manipur gazette is on official record with the government.
Imphal Times would like to add that there were only few villages inside and at the periphery of the KK Reserved area declared earlier that was published in Manipur Gazette Extraordinary dated May 26, 1961. The total area covered at that time was about 40 square miles. But due to objection from settlers of that area boundary of the KK Reserve Forest have been reduced to 33 sq. miles.
In 1968 June 3, another official Gazette (Extra ordinary Published by Authority) published after detail enquiry has been made by the then Forest Settlement Officer in accordance with the provision contained in Chapter II of the Indian Forest Act and following that as per an objection received from one subject, the creation of the said areas within the boundary mentioned in the 40 square mile proposed as in the notification dated July 31,1961 has been disposed and another gazette notification was published with the final boundary of the KK Reserve Forest with a area of 33 square miles . These are on government records.
The so call IHRA, in its statement signed by one Mark Thangmang Haokip , who claimed to be the President of the IRHA Manipur Chapter has intimidated not only this newspaper but also the Forest Department of Manipur with indirect threats, by infringing to the freedom of media. . (Leave aside Imphal Times, the Forest department should initiate legal action against the said person for intimidation to govt. department)
In connection with the Koubru Reserved Forest, Government of Manipur published a Gazette notification dated July 24, 1976 covering an area of 54 square Kilometer. This is also on government record.
Without having any evidence, the so called president of the IRHA , Mr. Mark Thangmang Haokip had tried to intimidate and malign the image of this newspaper by spreading fabricated stories against the report and also by trying to defame the Department of Forest, Government of Manipur , using social media platform and even by releasing a press statement to this media house.
