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IMPHAL, Dec. 6 -- The Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZB-M) has claimed today that historically, the Nagas were the first settlers in the hills of Manipur and the kings living in the four "Naga districts" had paid yearly cultivation tax to Naga villages. "It is illogical to pay it if the Kukis were the reverse," the ZB-M reasons.
It said when the Zeliangrong people came to their present habitat there were no other tribes including the Kukis whom the Zeliangrong forefathers could meet and enter into conflict with them in the early days.
"Our forefathers experienced inter-tribal (Kukis) conflict only in the 19th and the 20 centuries. For the Kukis started spreading in the hill areas during those centuries. Kuki exodus began after the adoption of planting Kukis in British frontier in the Naga hills and the Naga areas of Nagaland and Manipur in 1850s by Col. M.
C. Cullock. This fact is well accounted by R.
K Rajendro in his article, "Myanmar Amasung Manipur da leiba Kuki sing," in Poknapham daily newspaper dated 19th March, 2012. In the press box item it states, 'Yumhong toiba Kuki Chingmising asina Kanagumba leibak amada akaknaba Burma amasung Manipur da yum hongduna khundaruba khudunggi sajinnaba itihas semduna leibak tuda leijaramliba miyamdugi mathak thongnaba hekta hotnei. Makhoibu changpham piriba leibak tuda autonomous state nattraga ningtamba homeland piyu...