Citing ancestral land rights and traditional rituals, Gwaltabi Kuki Village asserts its legal and customary ownership over the disputed site, denouncing Thoyee’s unilateral move.
BY PC Bureau
May 16, 2025 – In a significant escalation of a long-standing territorial dispute, the Chief and Village Authority Council of Gwaltabi Kuki Village in Lhungtin Block has publicly condemned the erection of a foundation stone by the Thoyee Village Authority at a contested site known as Mahadev in the so-called “Wang-wei Town.”
In a press statement issued today, the Gwaltabi Kuki Village Authority declared the installation of the foundation stone as “illegal, provocative, and done without the knowledge, consent, or consultation of the rightful landowners.” The land, located above the main road and stretching from the Gwaltabi Meitei cremation site to the village water tank, is claimed by Gwaltabi Kuki Village as being under its jurisdiction by both customary and governmental recognition.
According to the council, the disputed land was legally acquired decades ago by the then Chief of Gwaltabi Kuki Village from the Chief of Thoyee through a traditional process that involved payment, ritual animal sacrifices, communal feasting, and the erection of boundary stones—practices in line with tribal customs and norms.
READ; “Army Bows Before Modi”, Says MP Deputy CM, Triggering Outrage
“The erection of a monolith by Thoyee Village Authority is not only a breach of tribal tradition and legal understanding but also a dangerous act that could ignite fresh tensions in an already volatile region,” the statement read. The council emphasized that the move threatens to destabilize fragile community relations and warned that Thoyee Village will be held fully responsible for any ensuing conflict.
The press release, signed by Ngamkhai Haokip, Chairman of the Gwaltabi Kuki Village Authority Council, and endorsed by all council members, also served as a “first and final warning” to the Thoyee Village Authority.
This incident comes amid growing sensitivities over land rights and community boundaries across the hills of Manipur, particularly as ethnic unrest continues to shape inter-village and inter-community dynamics in the region.
READ: AKs, RPG, M4 Rifle Recovered from Slain PDF cadres in Chandel
Background Context:
Disputes over ancestral lands and customary boundaries are not new to Manipur’s tribal belts. While many villages rely on oral agreements and ritual-based land transfers, rising land value and growing political uncertainty have led to a surge in such confrontations. The Gwaltabi-Thoyee conflict is emblematic of a larger pattern of contested claims—often complicated by the absence of clearly demarcated legal land records or enforcement mechanisms that reflect tribal customs.
As tensions simmer, the Gwaltabi Kuki leadership has appealed for recognition of tribal land traditions and urged government authorities to intervene and prevent any further escalation.
