Dimapur, August 31 (MExN): Counter claims are appearing after the Jalukie Zangdi arson. Even while the Zeme Council has reacted strongly to the “directive” of the NSCN-IM over the recent Jalukie Zangdi village arson, the Manglumukh Village Council has surfaced with a strong reaction against the demands of the Zeliang bodies. The Manglumukh council has even defended that the NSCN-IM’s action “should not be termed as arson” and that the NSCN-IM has done great justice without bias.
The Zeme Council in a word of cautions has “informed” the NSCN-IM not to ignore the rights of the landowner. “We will not accept any document that is made in regard to our land without our consent” a reaction from the council’s executive stated. It reminded the outfit that in case of any dispute it is the landowner (Jalukie) to settle the case as per Zeme Naga customary practices. “…passing any judgment without the consent of the original landowner is amounting to murdering the Naga custom” the council stated. The council also lamented that the NSCN-IM did not give a “chance” to the land owner village to explain the rights and possession between Jalukie Zangdi and Manglumukh village. This is biased and unprecedented, it stated.
The council further explained that at no point of time the authority in concern had acknowledged Manglumukh to be outside the Zeliangrong land but the village is the land and of the Zeme people, the council stated. The neighboring Hazadisa village has clearly acknowledged the ownership of Jalukie people and had stated that there is no other Naga tribe or Kuki settlers since 1929 but only ‘Jalukiema’ people. After obtaining permission from Kohima DC, Jalukie people were approached as per customary act and paid ‘Rampwa,’ Lunget tax,’ the council explained. Manglumukh’s GB, Domush, stated in reaffirmation and declaration written in Nagamese ion March 30, 1977 regarding this, the Zeme Council reminded. The council expressed shock that the NSCN-IM meted out such inhuman action of razing a legally established village. It is so unbecoming of the NSCN-IM to carry out such barbaric activity on own people, the council added.
Meanwhile, the Manglumukh Village Council has termed the demand of the Zeliang bodies as “false and fabricated.” The council in a reaction appended by Head GB Romesh Halflongper and VCC Jeeten Nunisa asserted that Manglumukh was established in 1970 and the trouble in the area started after the establishment of a “village by the name Zalukie Zandi” in 1980 which forcibly occupied the land of Manglumukh. The council claimed that the NSCN-IM’s actions “cannot be considered as one-sided” since it was done the council claimed, “after making thorough enquiries.” The Manglumukh council also termed as “obnoxious” that the Zeliang bodies claimed Dhansiripar sub-division as theirs. “The eviction carried out by the NSCN should not be termed as arson as it was carried out without prior information only against encroachers and not against Zalukie Zandi village as claimed” it stated and requested that without knowing ‘actual fact, no one should rise hue and cry.’
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