NONGPOH, Nov 26: Leaders of Belahari village in Jirang area have issued a public clarification regarding reports suggesting that one Morias Rani was allegedly expelled from the village. They have maintained that no such decision has been made and that her status as a resident has been temporarily suspended.
Addressing media persons, headman Peter Stone Syngkli, village secretary Khrawpyrkhat Rani and former headman Active Pator dismissed the reports of expulsion as speculation.
They clarified that the village’s Executive Committee imposed a suspension and provided Rani until November 29 to discuss the issues with the villagers. Failure to do so may result in stricter measures.
The leaders revealed that the conflict had stemmed from allegations against Rani, accusing her of illegally registering community forest land near the Assam border without village approval.
They also claimed that she had obstructed developmental projects, such as road construction, and filed complaints with Assam Police, hindering village progress.
The leaders further explained that Rani, who had left Belahari decades ago to live in Assam with her non-tribal husband, was reinstated as a village resident in 2010-11.
However, since her return, she has allegedly engaged in actions that disrupted village matters, reportedly influenced by her spouse.
The community forest at the centre of the dispute, they emphasised, is collectively owned by all villagers, not any individual.
The village leaders acknowledged the community’s frustration and noted that her actions have led some villagers to demand her expulsion.
