Dimapur, August 24 (MExN): In a very rare demonstration of strong political will by the government, the Nagaland government today came down heavily on two villages in Longleng district that have been at loggerheads over issues understood to be over land. Yaongimchen village is fined Rs. 1, 50, 000 for causing damage to property belonging to another village as well as for challenging the government by demonstrating means of weapons. Likewise, Pongching village is fined Rs. 25, 000 for failing to implement on time, recommended measures in regard to the disputed issues.
Deputy Commissioner of Longleng district CK Nihekhu Sema today said DBs were sent on August 12 to verify destruction and damage caused to paddy fields belonging to Pongching village, by Yaongimchen villagers. The destruction is stated to have been caused on August 10.
Undertaking the physical verification, it was ascertained that Yaong villagers not only destroyed the paddy fields belonging to four individuals of Pongching village but also removed boundary stones which were placed by the Longleng DBs’ court 38 years ago.
Besides, Yaong villagers also challenged the government by resorting to blank firing when the DBs were sent for spot verification, the administration said. After thoroughly examining the crime committed by the offending village, the administration imposed a collective fine of Rs.l, 50,000 on Yaong Village Council. The penalty is for taking the law in own hands and for removing the age old-boundary stones and for challenging the government by resorting to blank firing.
Also, a collective fine of Rs.25, 000 has been imposed on Pongching village authority for not taking timely action in spite of repeated information and suggestion given by Yaong village.
Both the villages have been ordered to pay within 15 days with effect from August 17, 2009. Failure to pay the penalty within the stipulated time will attract stoppage of all the ‘payments and transactions’ in respect of Village Development Board (VDB) of the defaulting villages. “The above action was inevitable so as to discourage such communal disharmony and communal enmity, which may lead to confrontation and serious consequence in future,” the Longleng district administration said.
