Imphal, June 21: Tension runs high among villagers in Manipur-Nagaland border in Ukhrul district after armed villagers of Matikhru on Nagaland side had confiscated an excavator (JCB) used by villagers of Jessami of Manipur for construction of drain for diversion of flood water.
District administration of Ukhrul district, in a report to the Chief Secretary of Manipur address the situation to be out of control as the armed village guard of Matikhru refused to let go the JCB vehicles which is kept in the middle of the Thetsü River till today since June 17.
Official report said that Sub Divisional officer of Jessami had gone to the disputed site and as reported by him the JCB is kept in the middle of the river, which he said that there is danger of washing away if it rains.
As the villagers of Jessami too prepare to act for getting back the JCB and the armed villagers of Matikhru villager do not retreat their stand, situation may turn hostile, said a report reaching here.
In charge Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul District D Gangmei, in his report to the state government, stated that he had talk with Additional Deputy of Meluri (Nagaland side) and in response the Additional Deputy said that the JCB is at their custody. The Nagaland government authority declined to co-operate the district administration authority in their effort to calm down the situation. The Nagaland government authority had flatly denied handing over the JCB to the Jessami Villagers, the report added.
Additional report from Eastern Mirror, a Nagaland based newspaper said that the district administration and police personnel of Meluri division under Nagaland and Jessami sub-division, under Manipur were put to task after a border dispute arose between the villagers of Matikhrü (Nagaland) and Jessami (Manipur).
The newspaper reported that Jessami villagers along with the help of an excavator (JCB) intentionally diverted the course of the Thetsü River on June 17, following which the villagers of Matikhrü also reacted.
It said according to EAC Lephori (Nagaland), Kedale Sebu, she suspected the move of the Jessami villagers as in a way to encroach the land (paddy fields) of Matikhrü villagers. Matikhrü falls under Lephori sub-division.
“In changing the course of the river, they (Jessami) must have attempted to expand their paddy fields, while putting greater risks to the paddy fields of Nagaland side which belongs to Matikhrü villagers,” she said.
Going by history, it was learned that the said area (Paddy fields) where Jessami villagers interfered, earlier belonged to Soraphong, a village on Manipur side. It was learned that the Jessami villagers interfered after some of their villagers bought the paddy fields from Soraphong villagers.
According to sources, earlier there was no dispute between the villagers of Matikhrü and Soraphong. The dispute started only after the Jessami villagers bought the area/paddy fields from Soraphong villagers.
The ADC of Meluri, John Tsulise Sangtam, who visited the dispute area, said the administration have seized the excavator, further informing that they have asked the Jessami villagers to change the river course to its original position.
The new river course, if not changed, also has every chance to destroy the paddy fields of Matikhrü and Kanjang, also a Naga village near the border area. As per reports, talks are on between the district administrations from both Nagaland and Manipur.
