Imphal, May 24 : Dismissing the claim of Zeliangrong Youth Front that around 70 armed cadres of KNF (MC) attacked Nungleiband village (Apinjang Ganglon Part-IV), the Khongbung Village Authority has denied existence of any village by the name of Nungleiband (Apinjang Ganglon Part-IV) in the surrounding area of Khongbung.
A press release issued by chairman of Khongbung Village Authority Papao Haokip clarified that the village in question was traditionally a Kuki village though they abandoned it during the 1993-94 Naga-Kuki clash.
Later when Kuki settlers came back to Khongbung village on January 28 this year, there were around 40 houses of Rongmei people.
Even as the Kuki people proposed for a joint settlement with Rongmeis at the village, the latter declined to give any comment.
But when the Kuki people came back with their belongings to re-settle at the village, they were blocked at the village gate.
On the appeal of the Rongmeis to wait for three/four days, the Kuki settlers took refuge at nearby Kuki villages.
Since the day, the Rongmeis called in NSCN (IM) cadres to guard the village.
On receiving information about this development, KNF (MC) cadres came to the village resulting in a shoot-out, the chairman explained.
Maintaining that the Khongbung Kuki village is their ancestral land, the village authority pledged that they would be budge from their stand even if the Leimatak river flows with blood.
It also appealed to all the people not to take the issue as an issue of the whole Kuki-Naga tribes but as a matter concerned with the Rongmeis bent on grabbing Kuki village.
It also appealed to concerned transporters to resume their passenger service along Khoupum road as usual.
Calling upon the local Minister and the State Government to make a sound judgement so that the land is entitled to the rightful owners, the village authority cautioned that the matter should not be allowed to snowball into a major issue.