Nagaland: Aggrieved landowners stage silent protest rally at Chozuba
Aggrieved landowners association holds protest rally at Chozuba town on February 28.
Kohima, February 28 (MExN): The aggrieved landowners’ association of SARDP-NE (Chakhabama to Zunheboto road) under Chozuba sub-division today staged a silent protest rally in Chozuba town under Phek district and submitted an ultimatum for disciplinary action in respect of RTI obstruction.
The ultimatum submitted to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chozuba, sought the authority’s intervention to constitute an Enquiry Committee into an incident on February 24, where two persons, Cizonyi Khusoh and Veku Khusoh, were allegedly threatened with dire consequences if they would not withdraw RTIs filed by them.
The duo are said to be the convenor and secretary of the 2-lane Road from Sedzu to Dzulha Aggrieved Property Owners Association who had filed two RTIs with respect to land compensation on February 12.
The protesting Association claimed that the duo was made to forcibly sign a letter of withdrawal “under intense pressure and life threatening situation,” by a mob led by nine village council chairmen and head GBs.
It said that the act was an insult and direct attack on the whole association as it expressed frustration “on the apathy of local administration with regard to land compensation issues raised by the land owners.”
Maintaining that the Association has been “working tirelessly for the cause of justice, transparency and timely completion of the two-lane project,” it expressed bewilderment “at the administrative gimmick, causing social unrest in the area.”
It said that “RTI as a right will never be sacrificed at the altar of might and at any cost will defend it,” and warned that similar incidents like that of February 24, where the mob harassed and caused mental torture and trauma to “justice seekers” would not be tolerated. Any untoward incident will be the sole responsibility of the administrative failure, it added.
The association demanded the authority to constitute an Enquiry Committee into the incident within 10 days of receipt of the letter and submit the report within 20 days from the date of constitution of the committee. It also placed on record the demand that disciplinary actions be taken against all perpetrators with the findings of Enquiry Committee. “The VCCs, GBs and all government servants participating in the mob activity should be booked under appropriate law for the commission of crime against RTI Act, 2005,” it stated.
The aggrieved landowners association took the silent protest rally from Zero Point, Chozuba town to the ADC’s office. It was reported that about 350 families from 12 villages took part in the rally.
