Dimapur, August 5 (MExN): The village council of Luhezhe village is disturbed by a news report of NeTV on July 27, where footage of Luhezhe village was telecast and a correspondent alleged that Luhezhe villagers are cutting trees inside the Assam Reserved Forest. This is causing misunderstanding and confusion in the already tense Assam-Nagaland border area, the council stated in a rejoinder today.
On July 24, the council stated, at about 10 to 11am, three people came to the village on a motorcycle, photographed and filmed timber and firewood harvested and collected by the vil1agers. “The villagers were not aware of their identity or their intention and the same was telecast in NeTV news leveling allegation on the villagers,” the council stated.
The village clarified that the villagers had not cut any tree from inside Assam Reserved Forest but were cutting and harvesting the trees planted by “early settlers of the village very much within the village boundary which was demarcated and approved by the Assam government”.
“The trees were planted during 1982-83 inside the demarcated land of the village after Assam government’s approval of village settlement and land demarcation through an order NO. JBA.10/81/PT-II/56 dated Jorhat 4th July 1982 which was signed by Shri. KK Baruah, the then Deputy Commissioner Sibsagar, Jorhat,” the council clarified.
“Luhezhe village is not against anybody or agency whatsoever but it was important to clarify the matter in order to avoid further misunderstanding and confusion. Therefore, the Luhezhe village appeals to all concerned to rectify the void reporting of the news,” the council stated.
