Following the reported tension between Jessami village and Matikhru village, published in the local daily, Jessami Village Council (JVC) has clarified that the issue was not a land dispute, but between the owners from the two village with regard to their paddy fields.
In a press note, JVC chairman Nizote .M state that the issue could have been settled between the leaders of two villages. However, he claimed that the chairman of Matikhru village rather lodged a complaint to ADC, Meluri. Nizote said that the district administration rushed to the spot along with the armed village guards and police personnel.
Nizote claimed that the larger portion of paddy fields, which belonged to Jessami village was washed away by the river. To protect the fields from being further destroyed, JVC said as precautionary measures, “the field owners dug a small canal with the understanding of field owners of Matikhru, whose fields were situated at the upper side of river.”
In order to avoid any kind of misunderstanding, Nizote said JVC on behalf of the paddy filed owners agreed to fill up the canal so as to fulfill the wishes of ADC, SDO and EAC. He alleged that the villagers were even made to carry out the work on Sunday, and the JCB driver made to work over time. He claimed that the villagers were forced to collect stones to divert the water towards the fields of Jessami village.
JVC however alleged that there were several instances where people from Matikhru village crossed into their side and harassed the villagers by using the village guards. However, Nizote reminded that the JVC would not respond to any further allegations on such issues.