Tungjoy village elder: Despite Govt's apathy we are guarding border
Nagaland rushes in where Manipur fears to tread
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 22: The picture of this place would certainly spell disbelief if one says that it is actually located inside the State of Manipur under Paomata Block of Senapati district.

With its scenic beauty and picturesque landscape, the place looks more like a Swiss country side.

Though the place is located within the boundary of Manipur, the Govt of Nagaland, fully understanding the tourism potential of the area, has started developing the area to make it a perfect tourist destination.

On the other hand, the Govt of Manipur is conveniently staying away from the place just as in the case of other interior areas, literally confining its presence and administration only at Imphal.

This was discovered by a media team which took part in the awareness cum 'grievances listening' campaign organised by the Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) at these border villages.

Interacting with the media persons, Tungjoy village chairman LS Daani said that this picturesque place is known as Anouthro.

This has also been a bone of contention between Khezakheno village of Nagaland and Tungjoy village of Manipur for more than a century with both the villages claiming their rights over Anouthro.

A village elder of Tungjoy aptly summed it up when he said "Though the Govt of Manipur does not acknowledge us, we have been protecting the frontiers".

Daani asserted that the area beyond the Adaitsii range up to Zerii stream belongs to Tungjoy.

Centuries back, elders of the two villages decided that Zerii stream would be the boundary between the two villages.

To sanctify the agreement, a cat was also sacrificed in the middle of Zerii stream in accordance with tradition, the village chairman said .

It was from this incident that the stream got its name, Zerii (Ze meaning blood in Poumai dialect and rii meaning oozing), he added.

Ignoring all these historical facts, the Govt of Nagaland intruded into the territory of Tungjoy and opened a police post, one kilometre inside the boundary of Manipur.

In response, Manipur Govt opened an MR post at Anouthro in 2000.But the MR post was removed not long after claiming shortage of security, rued former village chairman PD Sunii.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Govt of Nagaland started construction of dams and took up other activities aimed at developing it as a tourist spot.

The media also saw a tourist shed and plantation of saplings and flowers.

The villagers recalled that they stormed the dam construction site and burned down a bull dozer some decades back when construction of the first dam was initiated.

One Tungjoy villager, D Asii was killed by Khezakheno villagers in one such skirmishes in 1959, LS Daani recalled.

The first dam has started functioning while another dam is being constructed under NEPED Canada project, he informed.

To protest the intrusion by Nagaland Govt, the Tungjoy village authority submitted memoranda to the Chief Minister of Manipur in 2005 and 2006.Moreover, a complaint was also lodged at the office of the Senapati DC.

What compromised the rights of Tungjoy villagers over Anouthro the most was that the then Chief Secretary of Manipur, in a meeting held with Nagaland officials on October 14, 2005 at Hotel Japfii, Kohima put it on record that the MR post was within the boundary of Nagaland, lamented the village chairman.

This statement encouraged the Khezakheno village to re-assert their claim over the disputed area, he remarked.

Another villager decried that every step and action taken up by the Government of Manipur on the issue only lessened the authenticity of the Tungjoy villagers' rights over their land.

Meanwhile, ICHAM has questioned the conspicuous silence of the leaders of Manipur who have been reportedly making tall promises on the floor of the Assembly and public platforms that not an inch of land would not be given to any other State.

An ICHAM volunteer said that a memorandum on the matter will be submitted to the Chief Minister very shortly.