Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh has interacted with the residents of Andro and Sandang Sengba Maring villages to resolve the long-standing land dispute between the two villages.

During a meeting with the village residents in Imphal on Monday, Singh assured that he would constitute a committee to conduct an inquiry into the land dispute and find a permanent solution to it.

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Both Andro and Sandang Sengba Maring villages are situated in Manipur’s Imphal East district.

The two villages are embroiled in a long-standing land dispute that began a few years ago when residents of the Sandang Sengba Maring village fell trees at holy abode Andro Meiteis’ revered deities referred to as ‘Nongpok Ningthou”and Goddess “Panthoibi”.

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The tribal communities, particularly the Manipuri Nagas of Sandang Sengba Maring village, on the other hand, termed it as an encroachment on tribal lands.

With time this dispute has only become uglier.

Recently, the Andro residents also threatened to launch a movement if the body of a villager of the Sandang Sengba Maring village, who had been buried in Andro was not exhumed.

They alleged that the corpse was buried at a holy site, where religious rituals are performed by the Meitei community for good harvest and prosperity.

“Had a meeting with both the communities from Andro & Sandangsengba Maring village and listened to their issues regarding the land dispute. Assured them of constituting a Committee to conduct an inquiry into the dispute with DGP, concerned DCs, SPs, Forest officials as members,” N Biren Singh tweeted.