SHILLONG, April 3: The KSU on Monday urged the Meitei community to not threaten the Khasi population living in Manipur by asking to leave their agricultural land and go back to Meghalaya.
KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah said that the Meiteis and Bengalis continue to encroach Khasi cultivation lands in Khedagor Khasi village under Tamenglong district.
Alleging that the Khasis are living in fear there due to them being asked to leave their lands and return to Meghalaya, Thabah said that even the Forest department of Manipur has been erecting signboards, prohibiting Khasis from cultivating in their own lands.
“We appeal to the Meitei brothers to ensure the Khasis live with dignity in their own villages so as to ensure that the cordial relationship between Khasis and Meiteis can be retained,” Thabah said, adding that the land documents of the Khasi villagers were issued under the British regime in 1926.
According to him, the Khasi community in Manipur had even produced the land documents before Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
“Why should they chase them now since they have lived there for so many generations? We have also sent our message to the All Manipur Students’ Union to see that the Khasi population is not harassed,” he said.
Informing that the KSU will wait for any development in this regard for next few days, Thabah said they will resort to some drastic measures if they see that the Khasi population continues to live in fear.
According to him, the KSU had even called on Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma last year to discuss this issue.
“He (CM) told us that he will arrange a meeting with the Manipur Chief Minister to look into the safety and security of the Khasi population,” the KSU general secretary said.
Alleging that the Waheh Chnong of Khedagor Khasi village in Manipur was allegedly assaulted few days ago, Thabah recalled that the Manipur chief minister had assured a KSU delegation from Shillong last year that indigenous Khasis will be protected in their own land and that illegal settlers will be evicted.
“However, the scenario is even worse than before,” Thabah said.
