Song Song Village Authority rejects Viswema Village Council's claim over Mt. Esii.
DIMAPUR — The Song Song Village Authority (SSVA) has rejected the Viswema Village Council's circular dated July 21, 2026, which claimed that ‘Mt. Esii’ falls under the jurisdiction of Viswema village.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of Viswema Village Council on Saturday, the SSVA through its chairman Salew Pfokrelo Pfoze asserted that Mt. Esii is the ancestral domain of the people of Song Song village and ‘Ememai,’ inherited through generations under customary laws, oral history, and traditional heritage.
The authority stated that Mt. Esii, which it described as the highest peak in Manipur, is not only a significant geographical landmark but also an integral part of the ancestral heritage and identity of the people of Song Song village and Ememai.
Rejecting the contents of the circular, the authority said the removal of its signage from the mountain does not affect its legitimate claim over the area.
It further maintained that the Viswema Village Council's directive requiring trekkers to obtain permission before visiting Mt. Esii has "no legitimacy" over what it described as its ancestral domain, and called for the immediate withdrawal of the directive.
The statement affirmed that the people of Song Song village and Ememai would continue to visit, protect, and preserve Mt. Esii as their forefathers had done for generations, adding that they require no permission to enter what they consider their ancestral land.
It also stated that any obstruction or untoward incident arising from attempts to interfere with their access to the area would be the responsibility of those creating such interference.
While firmly rejecting VVC's territorial claim, the authority said it remains committed to maintaining peaceful neighbourly relations based on mutual respect and historical truth.
At the same time, it reiterated its determination to defend what it described as its ancestral rights through every legitimate and peaceful means until justice is achieved.
The SSVA urged the Viswema Village Council to refrain from making what it termed unfounded territorial claims and to avoid actions that could disturb fraternal peace and harmony.