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Shiva temple row in Tripura: State Tribal Welfare Minister attempts to defuse communal tension

Amid the ongoing tension over a contentious construction of a temple at Thaidawr Tlâng peak in Jampui hills under North Tripura district, Tribal welfare and Forest minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia of Tripura visited Jampui Hill for a 2-days stay on October 26. Sources close to the Minister said that the visit had been planned to defuse the ongoing tension and also to reach an amicable solution of the problems emerged over there.

 

According to a press statement issued by the Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau on behalf of the Tripura Mizo Convention, the Minister took particular interest in the recent communal tensions caused by the attempted construction of Shiva Mandir at Thaidawr Tlâng peak by outside group Bru Songrongma.

 

“The Mizo people of local Jampui Hill fiercely opposed the proposed move as they claimed no outside group or individuals have the moral or legal right to construct any structure within their Mizo traditional community land. And accordingly, the local Phuldungsei Village Council lodge its objection to the Subdivisional Magistrate of Kanchanpur, Mrs Chandni Chandran, who also denied permission to the Bru Songrongma to construct a temple on the site”, the statement reads.

 

Meanwhile, during the cordial discussion with leaders of the Mizo Convention, the Minister categorically stated that no temple would be constructed at Thaidawr Tlang by any group or individual. The ecology, environment, flora and fauna of the peak should be rather conserved, preserved, protected and utmost care and responsible behaviour should be demonstrated by each visitor. He also praised the local villagers for voluntarily taking care of the site and maintaining it clean and smart, and encouraged them to continue the noble work, the statement further maintained.

 

The Minister reportedly acknowledged that the interstate boundary between Tripura and Mizoram around Phuldungsei village and Thaidawr Tlâng needs urgent joint verification by both states in order to avoid further border disputes and tensions, and he mentioned that talks will soon take place.

 

The Mizo leaders also raised a number of demands before the minister. The Mizo Convention leaders raised the long-standing issue of poor records with respect to forest rights patta and actual land habitation, which the Minister promised to remedy at the earliest”, the statement added.

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