Dimapur July 15 (MExN): Reacting sharply to the contentions of Manipur Legislative Assembly member RK Thekho claiming a dispute between Tongjoi Village in Manipur side and Khezhakeno Village in Nagaland’s jurisdiction, the Khezhakeno Village Council has asserted that landownership rights have been recognized by various historical and administrative sanctions and as such there is no dispute as claimed by the MLA. The Khezhakeno village authorities warned that any outside threat or encroachment will be viewed seriously and will not be tolerated by the people.
“We would like to clarify and set the records clear once and for all to MLA RK Thekho and also for general consumption and reference. It is a well-known fact that the State-District boundary coincides with the traditional village boundary of Khezhakeno. This fact can be ascertained from the survey and demarcation of boundary carried out during the British-India administration in 1872 by Captain Butler and Dr Gordon” a rejoinder issued by Vivotso, Chairman of Khezhakeno Village Council and Kepfelhou, Head GB of the village reminded.
“Various substantial documents supporting this territorial right, some of which are the orders of a political case, Case No. 14 of 1933 under JH Hutton and GP Steward, the then Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills and president, Manipur State Darbar respectively. The Political Case No. 6 of 1950 through the office of Deputy Commissioners of Naga Hills and Manipur State and also the Inter-village boundary Agreement signed between the Chief Secretaries of Manipur and Nagaland on May 29, 1982” the Khezhakeno authorities informed.
“All these learned decisions and judgments bear testimony to the genuineness of the rightful ownership and the people of Khezhakeno has all the right to live and carry out any developmental activities inside its own traditional jurisdiction. Therefore, any outside threat or encroachment will be viewed seriously and will not be tolerated by the Khezhakeno people” the village authorities warned.
“It is very unfortunate that a person of such stature who holds high responsibility as a leader should turn heedless to the historical facts, orders and agreements and instead divulge such comments so as to create confusion and enmity to both the villagers and between the states of Nagaland and Manipur. The people of Khezhakeno have been living in the present territory with all its natural resources since time immemorial” it stated while calling upon all the concern authorities, leaders and people of Manipur, particularly of Tongjoi village, to respect the demarcated state-village boundary so that peace may prevail.
It was also clarified that Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s visit to Khezhakeno is “purely a domestic affair” and has nothing to do with the boundary issue as alleged. “We urge the MLA RK Thekho not to utter false allegation without proper ascertaining of the truth in future” the village warned.
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