Five arrested for illegal transfer of State land
Five arrested

Imphal (DIPR): A press conference with regard to the alleged possession of State land by some persons using fake patta and documents, was held on Sunday at the Conference Hall of DC, Imphal East, Porompat.

Deputy Commissioner Imphal East Khumanthem Diana Devi, IAS, who chaired the press conference informed that on March 10, two complaints were filed in connection with the illegal transfer of State land to one person, which led to further transactions of the property through Gift Deeds.

She elaborated that the complaints were submitted to Porompat Police Station and Heingang Police Station against the former SDC and the other officials involved to take legal proceedings.

She divulged that a plot of land at Koirengei, under Nilakuthi revenue village, which was reverted back to State land, has been mutated in the name of one person without duly examining the proper facts. The officials involved in such wrong doing have been booked for taking necessary actions under relevant Acts and rules, she conveyed.

The DC said that the same land was again mutated in the name of another person through Gift Deed, citing as the relation as nephew and brother-in-law, which is out of the definition of ‘family’ as mentioned in the MLR&LR Act.

As per the office memorandum issued by the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur, in July, 2021, Gift Deed can be executed only among the family members, which is defined as per provision of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reformed Act, 1960, she explained.

Diana mentioned that as per the Act, “family means in relation to a person, the wife or husband of such person, his children, grandchildren, parents, brothers and sisters; and in the case of a joint Hindu family, any member of such a family.”

The former Sub-Register of the department, who has executed the Gift Deed, is also in police custody for investigation and taking legal proceedings, she disclosed.

The DC warned that the government will not remain inactive and will not spare anyone for such wrong doing, be it a government employee or general public, who goes against the law.

Action will be initiated against those department officials who dare to defy and break the order of the government or memorandum or Act or any rules, she added.

According to SP Imphal East, two FIRs have been filed, one at Porompat Police Station and another at Heingang Police Station on March 10 as per the complaints received from the DC Imphal East. After the cases were registered, five officials involved in the illegal transfer of the State land have been arrested.

Based on the complaint lodged at Porompat Police Station, police have arrested two persons namely Sagolshem Ibomcha Singh of Langathel Moirang Leikai, Khongjom, Thoubal District (then Sub-Registrar) and LDC Khundrakpam Damayanti Devi of Wangkhei Konsam Leikai, Imphal East.

Another three persons – Chinglensana Kabui of Kakhulong Paona Bazar (then SDC, Heingang), Moirangthem Sanatomba of Khurai Chaithabi, Imphal East (Circle Mandal), and Leishangthem Biswanat of Khongampat Mayai Leikai were arrested by the police based on the complaint at Heingang Police Station.

The arrested persons have been remanded to police custody for five days for further investigation and legal proceedings.