HC pass verdict in favor of govt; encroachers prohibited from availing injunction
Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
DIMAPUR OCT 14: The State Government is ready to go to any length, to protect the proposed Rangapahar Government reserved forest area proposed for use as a Zoological park, from encroachers if trespassing does not stop immediately, a high government official told The Morung Express. In this regard a concerted eviction drive with maximum police backing to drive out the encroachers is expected soon. “If any action should be taken by the concerned authorities, even more extreme than the extent of action taken by the government as witnessed recently at Sugar Mill where illegal occupiers and encroachers were evicted last month, the government will do it if the encroachers does not leave the area alone” said a high government official on condition of anonymity, from Kohima. It is understood that in the wake of frequent trespassing and intrusion by inhabitants from in and around the Rangapahar reserved areas, the Government has started initiating steps to “launch action”.
The DC Dimapur also reiterated that the district administration was prepared to go to any length to protect the proposed Zoological park, especially in the wake of the Guwahati High court passing a verdict in favor of the State government’s stand on the ownership of the park as consequent to a court case filed by the illegal occupiers of the said areas.
The Court has also issued a Caveat writ forbidding any further move by the claimants from availing any stay order, injunction or relief writs against the judgment of the High Court. It is to be mentioned that the High Court had just recently passed an order stalling the efforts of some individuals allegedly representing the ‘illegal residents’ around the said areas to claim ownership over the land. According to latest information one person going by the name of Veyiho Sumi reported to be a self-styled GB of the residents around the Rangapahar reserve area and others had filed a case in the High Court on claims that the land “traditionally belonged to them and have been cultivating the areas for many, many years” and that “the government was the actual encroacher”. However, the High Court surmounted these claims and passed a no-injunction order against the petitioners.
Sources further informed that residents around the said areas are still continuing to trespass into the land, destroying walls, boundary peripherals and the likened lot set up by the government. This paper was informed by highly-reliable sources that the residents were organizing themselves into groups comprising of about 30 to 40 people to encroach, built illegal construction and ‘cause destruction’ in the area in defiance of the Dimapur DC’s order prohibiting the general public from erecting any construction or structure of any nature, holding meetings or gathering for any purpose, in or upon the Rangapahar reserved area. The DC had promulgated the order under U/S 144 Cr.PC prohibiting the general public from encroaching upon the Government reserved land in any way entirely or any portion of it, encompassing the area. It is also learnt that a nodal officer to deal with the matter, has already been appointed by the government and further actions are understood to be in the offing.
