Dimapur, February 14, 2010: An infuriated Meluri Village Council today took strong note of what was stated as willful encroachment activities and destruction of land resources by Jessami village, under Manipur state, the Nagaland base Morungexpress reported Sunday.

The daily reported that the Meluri council has issued a stern warning that if Jessami continues with its activities within Meluri land, extreme and decisive steps will be the only option against the latter.

Meluri Village Council today issued a statement accounting Jessami�s alleged activities and the warning.

The council said Jessami villagers have been intruding into Meluri�s land and engaging in illegal activities.

According to the Meluri council, on January 5, fishing Jessami villagers �bombarded� Tizu River with explosives.

The villagers �took the aid� of Manipur police and even using the �official pool vehicle� of the DGP of Manipur, an angry Meluri stated.

�The Jessami villagers in connivance with the armed forces on many occasions in the past have illegally used explosives at Tizu and Jiji rivers; they have started using a policy of hit-and-run in bombing fishes in the interior parts of Meluri.

They have on many occasions terrorized, threatened and harassed our people by playing double standard policy,� the Meluri council said.

On February 8, the council said, Meluri village had conducted a survey of Jhum cultivation and found that Jessami villagers had illegally intruded into the �heart of Meluri land.

This intrusion was despite the demarcation as agreed on June 6, 1994, the council said.

On the state date the two villages under chairmen W Kanmi and Leriisie had signed the demarcation agreement in 1994. �The Jessami villagers have ignored the agreement and have made inroads and have stolen away timber, logs and firewood worth crores of rupees,� the Meluri council said.

Meluri made clear that the 1994 boundary agreement was made �sacrificing and donating our traditional land with the hope of a peaceful coexistence among the two villages,� the statement said.

The Meluri has reported to the media that three cycles of Jhum forest areas namely, Ngarasii, Riizhiiju and Rieleh have been devastated.

Their flora and fauna have been destroyed by deforestation and burning of jungles and has affected the agricultural economy of the Meluri people, the statement said.

�The hazards of ecological imbalances created is a challenge to survival.

As a sign of our disappointment the villagers had burnt down 20-30 (stacks) of firewood cut by Jessami village in the said Jhum fields,� the council said.

The Meluri council has declared to Jessami villagers that illegally cutting timbers, firewood and engaged in logging and fishing activities in any manner, hunting or grazing animals, �loitering and picnicking� in the Meluri jurisdiction will not be tolerated any longer.

These activities will be countered with seriously, the Meluri council warned Jessami.

�We will be compelled to take extreme steps to protect our traditional heritage at all cost...

anyone trying to distort the fact and agreement is a clear sign of breach of trust,� the Meluri Village Council warned Jessami villagers.

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