KOHUR Raises Alarm over Tribal Land Grab in Manipur

In its representation, KOHUR warns that the erosion of land rights in Manipur threatens the identity, economy and cultural survival of tribal groups.

BY PC Bureau

New Delhi, December 4, 2025 — The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), an NGO with UN Special Consultative Status, has urged the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) to investigate and nullify what it calls a “sustained, state-enabled campaign of illegal land occupation” by non-tribal Meitei individuals in the hill districts of Manipur.

In a three-page representation submitted on Thursday to NCST Chairman, KOHUR alleged that tribal lands in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Moreh (Tengnoupal district) are being encroached upon in violation of constitutional protections and statutory safeguards that explicitly bar non-tribals from owning or occupying land in Manipur’s hill areas.

The Trust claims that the pattern of land acquisition by Meiteis — who are constitutionally recognised as non-tribals in Manipur — has intensified in the last decade, especially after the 2023 ethnic conflict. It alleges that the encroachments are “deliberate, organised, politically motivated, and often facilitated by sections of the state machinery.”

In the representation, KOHUR chairperson H. S. Benjamin Mate warns that the very foundation of Manipur’s tribal society is under threat. “For generations, the tribal peoples of Manipur have lived in harmony with their land. Today, that heritage stands threatened by systematic dispossession and discriminatory state practices,” Mate writes.

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The organisation argues that the erosion of land rights strikes at the heart of tribal identity, undermining not only economic security but also the cultural continuity of the communities that depend on these ancestral territories. KOHUR says it stands prepared to substantiate its assertions with land records, satellite imagery, personal testimonies and historical documents, all of which it is willing to place before the Commission as evidence.

A Legal Regime Designed to Protect Hill Tribes

KOHUR’s representation places heavy emphasis on the unique land governance framework in Manipur. Unlike most tribal regions in India, Manipur is not a Fifth Schedule state. However, the State has its own layered system of statutory protections that serve a similar purpose.

Key Legal Protections Cited:

1. Section 158 of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLR&LR) Act, 1960
   This is the bedrock of tribal land protection in the state.
   It clearly stipulates that:

“No transfer of land by a tribal to a non-tribal shall be valid unless it is with the previous permission of the Deputy Commissioner.”

The law effectively bars non-tribals — including Meiteis — from acquiring land in the hill districts without explicit administrative approval, which is rarely granted.

2. The Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Order, 1972 & District Councils Act, 1971
   These provide a parallel administrative and legislative structure for tribal districts. Any state action affecting hill areas must be vetted by the HAC.
   KOHUR alleges that these statutory requirements are routinely bypassed.
3. Constitutional Mandate Under Article 46
   The State is obligated to protect Scheduled Tribes from exploitation — a duty the organisation says is being violated systematically.
4. Supreme Court’s Samatha Judgment (1997)
   While pertaining to Fifth Schedule areas, the ruling emphasised that the State cannot dilute legal protections for tribal land rights — a principle KOHUR argues applies to Manipur as well.

Ground Situation: District-Wise Pattern of Encroachment

KOHUR’s representation accuses both private actors and state authorities of enabling illegal penetration of tribal lands. The Trust says its conclusions are based on community testimonies, local inquiries, and historical land records.

1. Churachandpur District

Once considered the heartland of Kuki tribal groups, Churachandpur has reportedly seen:

• Benami purchases involving tribal proxies acting on behalf of Meitei buyers
• Establishment of unauthorised settlements on the fringes of protected areas
• “Quiet occupation” of agriculture plots and vacant lands

KOHUR claims that district officials often “ignore repeated complaints filed by tribal landholders.”

2. Kangpokpi District

The organisation describes Kangpokpi as a “corridor of high-value land” because of the national highway network. Allegations include:

• Encroachment along the Imphal–Dimapur highway
• Acquisition of roadside properties by non-tribal businesspersons
• Use of political influence to bypass administrative checks

KOHUR alleges “direct complicity” of certain revenue officials.

3. Moreh (Tengnoupal District)

The border town of Moreh is identified as the most sensitive zone.

KOHUR claims:

• State agencies are encouraging “demographic re-engineering”
• Non-tribal Meitei and non-ST migrant populations are being settled in the area
• Tribal houses and properties damaged during previous conflicts were not restored, while new structures allegedly came up for non-tribals

The Trust says this is an attempt to alter the demographic balance of a strategically important border region.

According to the representation, the surge in illegal land occupation coincides with a broader political narrative within the state that repeatedly frames tribal protections as obstacles to development.

KOHUR alleges:

• Selective application of forest laws, where tribal settlements are targeted but non-tribal occupations remain untouched
• Harassment by police and revenue authorities, particularly when tribal complaints involve Meitei encroachers
• Suppression of documentation, including confiscation of mobile phones and frequent internet shutdowns in conflict-prone tribal areas
• Use of criminal charges to deter tribal activists from reporting land alienation

The organisation argues that this constitutes “institutional discrimination” against hill tribes.

What KOHUR Wants NCST to Do

Invoking Article 338A, the Trust has made three major demands:

1. Immediate Nullification of Illegal Occupations

KOHUR wants an NCST-led independent fact-finding committee to survey illegal transfers and declare all violations of Section 158 as null and void.

2. Land Audit and Accountability

The organisation has asked for:

• A statewide land audit in all hill districts
• A moratorium on land transactions involving non-tribals
• Disciplinary action against officials found aiding illegal occupation

3. Extension of Fifth Schedule-like Protections

Perhaps the most far-reaching request, KOHUR urges NCST to recommend:

• Constitutional amendments or central legislation
• Extension of Fifth Schedule-style tribal protections to Manipur’s hill areas

The letter also requests NCST to escalate the matter to the President of India and the Parliament, as permitted under Article 338A.