Tension brewing in Phayeng U-Yok Haraothel area’

Chapka Phayeng Village

IMPHAL, August 26: The Chakpa Phayeng Village Protection Committee has claimed that a tension is brewing in the area of Phayeng U-Yok Haraothel forest area between the Kangchup Phaizwal Village and the Chakpa Phayeng.

Speaking to media persons at the Manipur Press Club, secretary of the committee Dr Angom Iraijao said both the DCs of Senapati district and Imphal West district should be held responsible in case of any communal flare-ups in the area.

It may be mentioned that the said forest area lies on the border of the two districts.

He said the tension has been ignited by a recent declaration of the Kangchup Phaizwal Village that it will be celebrating the village’s 50th year of existence on August 29, 2015.

However, in 1984 K Phaizwal Village is not found on the record of the State government gazette notification number 347, he claimed.

And now, the village is claiming its 50th year of existence, which is a wrong claim, he continued.

He further urged both the concern DCs to look into the matter seriously.

He also appealed to Sadar Hill West SDC Kangchup and the SDO Gamphazol to look into the matter and verify the issue within 15 days from today.

However, if the government continue to neglect the issue, it could snowball into a major flare-up, he said.

Former minister of Phayeng, Biren, said according to their elders, a Sangyan village came into existence only around 1973 with just two-three houses near U-Yok forest area neighbouring Phayeng.

However, following the Kuki-Naga ethnic clash some 40 families from Churachandpur side arrived and entered the Sangyan Village, he claimed.

The village still has people who are still unable to speak Manipuri properly and they have named the village Kangchup Phaizwal Village after some 30 more families arrived, he said.

In recent times, in their bid to expand their so-called village they are cutting down the trees and clearing the forest, he said.

The forest area was recorded to be 203.75 acres under CS Dag No 1 in a 1960 Manipur Gazette, but now the size of the forest is recorded at only 108.50 acres, he continued.

He further appealed to the concern authorities to conduct a proper survey and demarcate land at the earliest.

Biren said the people of the area are waiting for a government intervention at the earliest.