Lamdan “chief” wants justice

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 22

The “lawful chief” of Lamdan/Lamtan village, M. Acham asked the T.A. and Hills and DC, Churachanpur to enquire into whether a criminal can hold the post of village chief or village authority by referring to the Village Authority Act, 1956.

Addressing a press meet today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, Acham claimed that he has been appointed as the lawful chief of Lamdan/Lamtan by the former chief (his father) by convgening a clan meeting on the genuine Meiringmei clan on 2014.

He said that M. Khuripou was appointed as the chief of Lamdan/Lamtan village in 2015 with the help of the former deputy chief minister, Gaikhangam by superseding all the previous orders of the TA and Hills, principal secretary.

He said that after appointing Khuripou as the new chief of the village he has been looting the village forest wealth which has been preserved by their forefathers more than 100 years.

As the village chief post has been forcefully usurped Khuripou has made a shameful attempt to sell a dense forest area at a price of Rs. 5 lakhs but timely intervention made the attempt futile, he added.     

Acham charged Khuripou that he has conducted many criminal activities like deforestation, illegal stone quarries in the village and even misuses funds of the sanitary schemes and mid-day meal provided by SSA for the village school.

He appealed to the government and the concerned authority to look into this and take up action to bring justice.