Appeals Governor to withdraw/relocate army/paramilitary
DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): Nihokhu village in Dimapur today pointed out how government land meant for administrative purposes has been converted into “firing practice” land for the Indian paramilitary.
A representation sent to the Governor of Nagaland by the Nihokhu Village Council (signed by the Village Council Chairman Ghosuho Zhimomi and its Secretary Inaho Sumi) explains how 100 acres of the 300 acres of land donated by Nihokhu village for the establishment of the EAC HQ was given away without consent to the Indian army in 1995.
“The present EAC, HQ was established in the year 1979 at Nihokhu village on the 300 (Three Hundred) Acres of land donated by Nihokhu village for the said establishment. The Government of Nagaland had also constructed EAC office and staff Quarters for the purpose of administration in the area. However, in the year 1995, during the army operation, the 17 Sikh Regiment occupied around 100 (one hundred) Acres of the said Government land as their outpost camp without any permission either from Government or village authority. Since then the successive Army/Paramilitary forces have occupied the said land and six administrative quarters as a matter of right without any permission from whosoever,” stated the representation.
The Village Council pointed out that it had never donated the village land to establish any army/paramilitary forces outpost but solely for the establishment of EAC, HQ. According to the Council, the continuous occupation of the land by the army/paramilitary force has become a hindrance in the functioning and development of the administrative office located therein.
“We object to such forceful occupation of our land without any permission,” the Council stated.
The Nihokhu Village Council, in its representation, has requested the Governor of Nagaland for the withdrawal/relocation of the army/paramilitary force based at the village and also to put a stop to “firing practice” conducted by the 29 Assam Rifles in the vicinity of the village.
It was also mentioned that the establishment of army/paramilitary force camps in the village was not only “perilous to the villagers but also not in the interest of the army/paramilitary forces security”.
The Nihokhu Village Council referred to the Union Cabinet Resolution for withdrawal of all armed army/paramilitary forces from civilian populated areas. “Therefore, in the light of the aforesaid grounds and reasons we beseech your competent authority to intervene in the matter and take immediate step to withdraw/relocate the army/paramilitary forces from the vicinity of the village where they are presently located”.
Further, the representation has apprised the Governor that the constant firing practice conducted by the successive Assam Rifles posted at Nihokhu camp has caused both physical and psychological stress/problem to the villagers. In this connection the Governor was informed about the “harsh realities as a consequence of the constant firing practice and blasting of bombs”.
It explained that firing practice of light and heavy machine guns is conducted in the vicinity of village residents, hardly 75 (seventy five) feet distance from the nearest house.
The firing practice site is not an idle place and quite unsafe, it stated adding that the place has not been fortified as is the norm. As a result there have been many incidences where the ricocheting bullets have pierced residences and trees making the villagers live in fear and peril, stated the representation while enclosing a picture of the fired bullet head.
Some high-tension electric live wires in the village have also snapped by the bullets during firing practice. And due to constant firing practice and blasting of bombs, health condition of the sick and old persons have further deteriorated while the study of students’ has been “disturbed and the villagers cannot sleep in peace,” it stated.
The villagers also added that due to the deafening noise of guns being fired and bomb blasting, classes in the school hours, devotional services in the church on Sunday and work during office gets disturbed “causing lots of stress”.
It was also noted that the emission of obnoxious gas from the firing of guns and bomb blasting has affected poultry and piggery rearing in the village. Further, many of the villagers have started to develop dry cough, influenza and other related illnesses throughout the year. These firing practices are conducted without due information to the EAC, who is the administrative authority, or village authorities.
The Governor was told that when the Nihokhu Village Council approached the post commander of the 29 Assam Rifles requesting them not to conduct the firing practice in the village vide letter dated 01.07.2012, but instead of being responsive to the needs of the people whom it serves, the 29 Assam Rifles only aggravated the situation by conducting firing practice and blasting bombs more vigorously than earlier which is quite contrary, stated the Council, to their stance as “Friends of the Hill People”.
Considering the plight of Nihokhu villagers, the representation fervently appealed that the present outpost of army/paramilitary forces located at Nihokhu village be withdrawn and be located elsewhere. The villagers also appealed to the Governor to put a stay on the firing/blasting practice so that villagers may live their lives in peace and tranquility.
