Litan, Manipur | EKHON: K. Wungreikhan, Headman of Litan village, has publicly reaffirmed his family’s historical claim over disputed land in Litan, citing decades-old legal documents, administrative orders, and a 1973 compromise agreement as the basis for ownership.
In a detailed statement, Wungreikhan said the village historically known today as Litan was originally called “Nosowu” in the local dialect. According to him, the name “Litan” emerged later which is derived from “Li” (cane) and “Tan” (bridge) by some Meiteis, referencing a cane bridge across the river.
The headman stated that traditional boundaries were marked by the river, with land east of the river belonging to Sharkaphung/Sikibung. He maintained that this ownership was reflected in orders issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) over the years and during the tenure of R. Khathing, then Hill Minister of Manipur.
According to the statement, an eviction order against the Kukis was issued by SDO Ukhrul L. Kipgen on June 27, 1955, following alleged encroachment. Subsequent civil appeals were filed in the 1960s, and an eviction execution order (Case No. 16 of 1970) was later issued to the Kukis.
However, the dispute temporarily de-escalated when both sides (Litan and the Kukis) reportedly reached a written compromise on September 7, 1973. Under the agreement, Kukis were to pay Rs. 20,000 to Litan village, with Rs. 10,000 paid initially and the remaining Rs. 10,000 due by July 31, 1974.
“The payment they (kukis) were supposed to make on 31/07/1974 has not been paid to this day,” Wungreikhan said. “Since they (Kukis) failed to uphold the agreement of 1973, they had no rights over the land and we’re the landowners.”
Wungreikhan further stated that in 1982, his grandfather Mashangthei allotted land for the establishment of the Litan Police Station during the tenure of then Deputy Commissioner G.P. Joshi. He cited this as acknowledgment of ownership by authorities.
“This act of allotment and the establishment of the police station shows that the Government acknowledges the true landowner,” he said.
He added that in 1994, his father K. Phungmi, then headman, issued a decree requiring his consent for any sale or purchase of land in Litan. The decree was reportedly published in The Aja Daily on February 11, 1994.
The statement claims that efforts at amicable settlement were made in recent years, including discussions involving Tangkhul Naga Aze Longphang and members of the Autonomous District Council (ADC). Meetings reportedly took place in December 2019.
Wungreikhan said the Kuki’s proposals was centered on paying the outstanding 1974 balance adjusted for inflation. His family rejected the proposal. “We can co-exist peacefully as long as they acknowledged the landlords,” he stated. “There can be no monetary compromise.”
He said that after negotiations failed, an executive decision dated December 21, 2019, indicated mediators would no longer handle the matter. The headman also alleged that on December 29, 2021, he was attacked in a broad daylight by the Kukis with an attempt to kill at Litan Bazaar.
“More than 50 people made this attempt on my life but fortunately, I escaped alive,” he claimed, adding that his request for an FIR was not filed.
He further alleged multiple incidents of assault on villagers over the years, including a recent altercation during a power blackout in which two villagers were reportedly beaten. “It is a very unfortunate thing to happen,” he said. “If the culprits had apologized in the first place, this would never have happened.”
Concluding his statement, Wungreikhan appealed to members of the Tangkhul and Naga communities for support. “We are in need of help. This constant allegation and fabrication of events into lies have gotten out of hand,” he said. “We urge you all to look into the matter seriously and to extend your helping hands.”
