'Cancel land allotted to ex-CM Rishang's son'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Lukhoi Wangkhem
Imphal, May 07 2011:
Alleging that a son of former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing had acquired three acres of khas land in his name at Lamlongei Kuthabi under Heingang AC of Imphal East, villagers of the area today drew the attention of the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh.
The villagers alleged that Nambuthing Keishing son of Rishang Keishing had transferred the land to his name in two instances, in 1972 and 1979, and have demanded cancellation of the patta.
A case on the ownership of the land has been pending with the court when villagers were prevented from fetching water from the area.
Villagers have been fighting the case since 1973.Rishang Keishing was Chief Minister and Helim Chaudury was DC of Imphal and villagers had on many occasions submitted many memoranda to the CM to allow villagers to use the land as their water source.
Protest rallies were also taken out on the matter, Waribam Khelen, the president of the action committee formed in connection with the saving of the land, recalled.
He further said that a part of the land was encroached upon and ownership was transferred in the name of Tony Keishing, the youngest son of Rishang Keishing.
After a strong objection from the villagers, the land was finally returned to the Lamlongei bazar board.
Further land encroachment at the Bengali Colony in Mantripukhri was also evicted following the people's strong protests but, the three acres of land encroached upon by Nambuthing Keishing is yet to be cleared despite strong objections from the villagers, he said.
Asserting that a vast paddy field had already been taken over when the IGAR(S) campus was developed, Khelen, on behalf of the people, urged the chief minister to cancel the land allotment order to Nambuthing Keishing.
The land has long been used by the people as their water source since river course of the Imphal river was diverted, he added.