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Litan Village headman claims ‘monumental administrative mismanagement’ in highway expansion

Litan Village headman VS Deepak (Red Jacket)
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In a representation submitted to the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul, dated July 3, 2021 by headman of Litan Village, VS Deepak alleged that 400 meters of land belonging to Litan Village which was included in the land acquisition was not informed of the same.

TFM Ukhrul Correspondent

In the matter of land compensation of Litan Village affected in the expansion of two lanes touching NH 202, the headman of Litan Village alleged that his revenue village has been excluded. 

In a representation submitted to the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul, dated July 3, 2021 by headman of Litan Village, VS Deepak alleged that 400 meters of land belonging to Litan Village which was included in the land acquisition was not informed of the same. However, it appears that the headman of Mongkot Chepu in collusion with the administrative authority particularly the Revenue Department had already claimed the compensation of land under Litan Village, he alleged. 

“There has been a monumental administrative mismanagement concerning Litan Village of which I am the bonafide Village headman. I have to further submit that a good area of land in Litan village was affected in the expansion of two lanes touching NH 202. I, being the headman, have been paying all the taxes of houses under my village. I have been exercising all my village authority rights however, it appears that the headman of Mongkot Chepu in collusion with the administrative authority particularly the Revenue Department had already claimed the compensation of land under Litan Village,” VS Deepak alleged in the representation. 

Deepak maintained that a complaint was registered to Ukhrul DC on January 18, 2021 citing and furnishing voluminous documents proving legitimate rights of ownership and title of his village. Consequently, after repeated reminders and persuasion there was a field enquiry and investigation on April 16, 2021 with all the respective officials and representatives. The report of the field enquiry and investigation is still awaited. 

He also accused villagers of Monkot Chepu of inciting communal ill feelings and they allegedly attacked his house and property and there were certain damages too. Unfortunately, the security could not control the mob. 

“There was and is an ongoing threat to the lives and property of my family, which is why the immediate administrative correction of the erroneous award of land compensation is sought for. I am not in a position to live and settle in my own house after the mob attack occurred on 16-04-2021, which is a matter of concern,” he added. 

Deepak also warned that monumental administrative failure in this matter shall certainly result in much bigger issues to the tune of communal clashes, which will be a great exemplary mistake at the hands of the law enforcing agencies and administrative officials involved in the land compensation conspiracy. 

“All the necessary claims, documents (already filed) and submissions and clarifications were made on 16-04-2021 when officials visited for field enquiry and inspection. As a result of the field enquiry and investigation, it was revealed that 400 meters of land belonging to Litan Village of which I am the incumbent Headman is included in the land acquisition and surprisingly I have never been informed of the same,” he added. 

The chief of Monkot Chepu village seems to have claimed the area of 400 meters as his area and included it in the land compensation, Deepak said adding, the chief does not have any proof or evidence then without any evidence or valid documents how could the competent authority grant him compensation of my land. 

Deepak also alleged that there was a gross bribery, nepotism and favoritism involved in the grant of land compensation. This is unacceptable as a rightful citizen. Proper action and inquiry must be initiated against the wrongdoers and fitting punishment should be given to any staff or officials involved in the conspiracy, he added. 

Asserting that the unlawful process to eliminate the very existing Litan Village initiated by certain sections of people and stakeholders must be stopped immediately, Deepak demanded a thorough investigation into the revenue department particularly for Ukhrul District who seemed to have overlooked and manipulated the documents. 

“The silence from the competent authority shall weaken the powers and functions vested upon the administrative authority. This shall cause public mistrust and massive loss of respect and integrity in the eyes of the victimised complainant”. 

Deepak also said that he has not received any official document inviting my presence in the joint survey and inspection scheduled to be held on Friday, although the order No. 10/157/2020-REV (U) Pt/0275 mentions all concerned village headmen and my presence is thereby mandated.

Deepak also mentioned tha he filed another complaint directly to the NHIDCL through the ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India through the Public Grievance Portal on May 22, 2021 bearing Registration No. MORTH/E/2021/04703. The NHIDCL authority concerned had called up twice and sought relevant complaints and documents already addressed to the competent authority (DC, Ukhrul District). I had submitted all the scanned copies to them, he added. 

“A huge sum seems to have been manipulated in this respect, which is why the essential verification of the holding rights and land ownership was overlooked, and simply on the pretext of not objecting or complaining the land compensation was granted. This amounts to infringing of my personal rights and suppressing of my village authority rights as a headman. This could never take place without at least serving a notice or summon to my representatives or myself. 

“On many occasions, I have been receiving notices or advisories from the administrative authority on other issues however, they deliberately failed to do so on this occasion. The major administrative failure occurred when they ordered compensation to the tune of more than Crores of Rupees without proper verification and validation to the village headman and villagers of Monkot Chepu. This clearly shows that there is an absolute nexus between some of the administrative authorities and the headman of Monkot Chepu, who had claimed the compensation without any proper basis or rights by bypassing every hurdles of verification.

“On the day of field enquiry and investigation, the mob attacked my eldest daughter and pelted stones on my property. My daughter luckily escaped the situation without any harm or injury. A car belonging to my relative was broken so also the gate of the house. The police did not control the mob nor could they prevent the violence despite my prior complaint to the Police Authorities concerned in advance on 10-04-2021 and in writing. The police ignored to take up any complaint in this regard and the OC kept on reporting to the higher ups misinforming that the mob was provoked by my daughter. This is a totally fabricated story. The photographs of my property including a car of my relative will prove that the mob was indeed wild and uncontrolled even though the police were present.  

“It is also suspected that certain pressure has been mounted from the higher ups in the law enforcing department. There is no security protection to my house till date which needs immediate attention for the safety of my family and my property. Hence this memorandum.”

In the representation, Deepak also demanded “to legitimately investigate the matter of my complaint without any further delay and biasness. To bring it to rest all the unlawful steps taken up by certain stakeholders to eliminate the existence of Litan Village by misappropriation and unlawful means. To grant appropriate land compensation to the tune of 400 meters as claimed on 16-04-2021 belonging to Litan Village and dispose of the matter at the earliest. To initiate disciplinary and legal action against any official(s) demmed to have been involved in the conspiracy by compromising the integrity of being a government servant and thereby tarnishing the image of the respected Competent Authority and the Government. To provide necessary security arrangement to the headman of Litan Village including his family and property. To bring communal harmony and re-store peaceful co-existence.”

VS Deepak stated that “The land which I am staying here is Litan, I have my Patta land, I am holder of Touzi No. 36 of Ukhrul District of Ukhrul Block. And the very order does not mention anything about Litan village. Only Litan Sareikhong and Mongkhot Chephu. Is the national highway going to zoom-over Litan village? That is the question which I am pursuing and appealing to the concerned authority right now. I have had my Patta since 1956 in the extraordinary gazette. The government has recognised the village. I have been paying taxes, received MNGREGS but why was my village left out? ” 

In this connection, SDC of Ukhrul, Tennyson Khaleng stated that “in 2018, the initial survey was conducted by SF consultant. And after recording all the affected owners, they prepared the details of the affected land to be affected by the expansion of double lane and was uploaded to the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway, Government of India. Government of India issued the gazetted notification on January 30, 2020. In that notification, it was mentioned that any complaint can be made within a period of 21 days from the date of publication of notification. However, he also assured that as per the rules and procedure and provision necessary rectification will be done at the earliest time and issued appropriate orders.”

The representation was submitted to DC Ukhrul on Saturday at the premise of Litan Police Station; copies of which were sent to MLA 44-Ukhrul Assembly Constituency, Secretary to CM, Manipur, Executive Director (P) NHIDCL RO, Imphal, GM (P) NHIDCL PMU-Ukhrul and various departments including Forest, PWD, Horticulture and Soil Conservations, Agriculture and Fishery. 

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