Following allegations against former Rambrai MLA Kimfa S Marbaniang and his father Paul Leong, who were accused of torching three houses in ‘Law Ksaw’, family members of Kimfa have come forward to clarify that the entire episode is a deliberate attempt to frame them by individuals trying to illegally occupy the land.
Three of Kimfa’s maternal aunts – Seltimoris Marbaniang (Meiheh), Memories Marbaniang (Nah-nah), and Beldaris Marbaniang (Meideng) – addressed the media on Tuesday, stating that the people making the accusations are trying to settle for free on land that belongs to their family.
Claiming ownership over approximately 33 square kilometers of forest land located in Mawthylliang Mawpayier under Rambrai Syiemship, the women produced Land documents to support their claim. Seltimoris said the land has been owned by their ancestors for generations and the entire Hima Rambrai knows of their family’s ownership.
She added that the land was merely leased to cultivators but the recent settlers arrived just three months ago and are not permanent residents of the area. She also revealed that Kimfa had filed police complaints twice, in January and March this year, against illegal settlers and the police had also warned those individuals not to stay on the land illegally.
The women said they have all legal documents, including land titles, to prove ownership. They further claimed to have previously won a legal case over the same land.
Memories Marbaniang expressed shock and disappointment over the allegations against Kimfa, who was away in the village tending to local work at the time of the incident.
When asked about the FIR lodged against Kimfa and Paul Leong accusing them of arson and shooting, the women refused to comment, saying they were not present during the incident and hence could not speak on it, but added that they trust the law to take the right course of action.
