Forest Fire near Mantri Pantha settlement under Compartment No. 29 of Lamkang Block (24º32’36”N 94°00’89”E) on 15 April 2020

Following reports of a forest fire in Lambung village of Chandel District, I, S. Shosheekumar (RFO/ Chakpikarong and in-charge RFO/ Chandel) reached Lambung Village on 15th April 2020, at around 2 pm with a team of forest officials comprising Esther Laltankim Serto (DFO/ Chandel) and Ch. Deven Singh (former RFO/Chandel). Khurshid Alam (FG) and S. Borish Singh (FG), who were informed in advance, were already at the site along with some villagers. And with the help of Chandel fire brigade team and personnel of Chandel Police Station had successfully doused most of the forest fire, by the time our official team reached the site.
In relation to this incident of forest fire on 15th April, Chandel Police headed by O.C. Chandel P.S. Shri Potsangbam Surajkumar had taken into custody and detained three villagers from Lambung Village, namely (1) J.S. Anghring, 69, S/o Late Bethung (2) S.T. Kohmanghring, 22, S/o S.T. Lumngam, and (3) J.S. Ritha, 23, S/o J.S. Anghring, as they were seen on the spot while setting fire in the community forests near Mantri Pantha village at the lower reaches of the hillocks close to the village settlement area under Compartment No. 29 of Lamkang Block (24º32’36”N 94°00’89”E).
On further investigation, it was found that forest fire had occurred about a kilometre away from Mantri Pantha village (24°31’92”N 94°01’07.7”E) on 5th and 6th April, 2020 which was doused by villagers from Lambung village as well as those from Mantri Pantha village. Parts of the upper reaches of the hillocks including a small patch of dense forest were also burnt. The culprit/s behind these fires however is/are unknown. The said areas where forest fires have occurred have been a disputed land without proper village boundary demarcation between Lambung and Mantri Pantha village since the time of their forefathers.
Statements of the three detainees (later released on PR bond by the Police on 15th April, 2020) were also independently taken again on 16th April, 2020. From the statements the three persons expressed that they were burning their designated jhum field only for their livelihood and have no connection with the forest fires that occurred on 5th and 6th April, 2020. Both elders and villagers of Lambung and Mantri Pantha villages also failed to specify and name any suspects on the forest fires that has burnt their forest areas cleared for jhum on 5th and 6th April respectively.
Hence, based on the spot verification and remnants of the forest fires, forest offence is deemed to have been committed u/s 33 of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Rule 3, 4 and 9 of Manipur Forest Rule, 1971 which prescribes a penalty of imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend upto Rs 500 or with both. Based on the statements of the three detained persons and village elders mentioned above it cannot be substantiated that the detainees actually set fire to the forests on 5th and 6th April, 2020. It is, therefore, requested that further investigation may be caused.

Forest Fire near Mantri Pantha settlement and adjoining areas doused jointly by
villagers
forest staff
police and fire brigade team