Kanggui, June 15, 2025: A fresh land dispute flared today around 10:30 AM in the volatile buffer zone between Meitei-dominated Leitanpokpi and Kuki-majority Wakan, after a Meitei farmer reportedly attempted to plough land near the sensitive Sadu Lampak area - prompting strong objections from the Kuki community.
The disputed site lies close to Kuki settlements, and the act was seen as a provocation. Kuki villagers intervened, claiming the land does not belong to the Meitei farmer and warning that such unilateral activity in contested areas threatens communal harmony and security.
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| Security forces attempting to de-escalate the situation this morning |
Videos later circulated online accusing Kukis of obstructing farming activities, but local sources said the clips misrepresented the incident, ignoring the legal and territorial context.
Security forces, including the Additional SP of Imphal East and central paramilitary units, were present and worked to maintain calm. The Superintendent of Police later reinforced the area.
Kuki elders emphasized that the issue was not opposition to agriculture but the reckless assertion of territorial claims in a sensitive region. “Farming cannot be a pretext to provoke conflict,” one elder noted.
Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) also questioned the legality of land claims by Leitanpokpi residents. According to Lenin Haokip, KIM’s Legal Affairs Secretary, the land falls within Purum Likli village in Saikul Sub-Division, a notified Hill Area under the Kangpokpi District and governed by the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act.
Under relevant laws - including the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 - non-tribals (such as Meiteis) are prohibited from acquiring land in Hill Areas without approval from the Autonomous District Council (ADC). KIM has posed critical questions:
* Did the Meitei farmer obtain a valid sale deed from the village chief?
* Was land transfer approval granted by Sadar Hills ADC?
* Was the transaction registered at the Sub-Registrar Office in Kangpokpi?
Without these answers, KIM said, any land occupation attempt must be considered illegal and provocative.
"Respect for land laws in Hill Areas is non-negotiable," Haokip said, adding that those claiming ownership must provide proof.
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KIM urged the state government, civil society, and media to uphold constitutional protections and avoid biased narratives that overlook legal and historical realities.
"The need of the hour is not provocation, but dialogue, restraint, and respect for established laws," the statement concluded.
