Morung Express News
Kohima/Dimapur | March 15
In what is hoped to be an end to the tense standoff over a land dispute between the Mao Council and the SAPO, the Manipur security forces, IRB and police, stationed in two locations at the disputed site of Kezoltsa/Kozürü, shifted to different locations on Friday.
According to sources privy to the developing situation, the Manipur IRB forces abandoned their area of station at the disputed site and were relocated to a place called ‘Raku Kokubu,’ some distance away from Kezoltsa/Kozürü area. Furthermore, Manipur police personnel have returned to Mao Gate Police station, it was informed.
The Mao Council, in a letter addressed to the Tenyimi People's Organization (TPO), with copies to Naga People's Organization, Senapati and the Angami Public Organization today confirmed this while informing of a communication routed through the MLA of Mao A/C by the Chief Secretary of Manipur on March 14 evening that the security forces stationed in the dispute area “will be relocated to an undisputed area today i.e. the 15th March 2024.”
“We have also visited the site identified for the relocation and observed that necessary arrangements for the relocation have been going on since the last two days,” the letter further stated.
On March 6, the Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) directed Mao citizens residing within Angami jurisdiction in Kohima to return to their respective native villages as per customary norm, “Since the Mao Council had totally failed to vacate and withdraw the Manipur security forces which were established at the disputed Kezoltsa, at their behest, with ulterior motive.”
The Angami Youth Organization (AYO) added to the pressure by stating that it would carry out extensive exercise on the census of Mao populace living/residing within Angami jurisdiction.
It may be recalled that the Angami Public Organization (APO) mediating for SAPO had issued a deadline to the Mao Council on January 19 to take full responsibility in withdrawing the Manipur Rifles/police and all its security apparatus stationed at the disputed site of Kezoltsa/Kozürü on or before February 20.
