Tension between two tribal communities in Manipur

Aimol Tribe Union (ATU) president Akhup Sangkho and Aimol Chiefs' Association president Kh Sungsonong told media persons that a new development had cropped up at Maring-inhabited Kangoi Khunou village since the election of a new village chief, Mocha Maring.

There are nine Aimol villages surrounding Kangoi Khunou.

They alleged that at the instigation of the new village chief, Maring villagers cut over 100 pine trees from a hill known as Natongjou belonging to the Aimols and the Aimols protested this.

Unofficial reports said there were attacks and counter attacks of the two in the pase one or two weeks but there were no casualty on both sides.

On the other hand, senior member of Maring tribe association of Natongjou hills belonged to Maring community and no Aimol would be allowed to hunt, pluck vegetables and cut trees there.

Official sources said attention of the nearby police station had been drawn and attempts were being made to prevent any untoward incident between Maring and Aimol communities.