Dimapur, Feb 17 (MExN): The Northern Sumi Region, comprising of 19 villages, submitted a memorandum to the Government of Nagaland objecting to the proposed re-demarcation of the region into respective blocks to Mokokchung and Wokha District, strongly maintaining that the present placement of two villages in Mokokchung district and the remaining 17 villages in Wokha district was an established fact accepted by all including the government as well as the villages in question and any issue of effecting further administrative division was out of the question.
Addressed to the Chief Secretary, the memorandum, assented by the Head GBs of the 19 villages, put up a number of submission for consideration namely, that the villages does not recognize the demarcation laid by the Deputy Commissioners of Mokokchung and Wokha Districts on January 11, 2006 at Akuhaiqa village and demanded a review of the proposed re-demarcation. The memorandum pointed to reports appearing in the local press which suggest that the new boundary demarcated is the traditional boundary between the Lotha and Ao tribes. “Such a report, especially from the government functionaries is unacceptable”, the memo stated and maintained that the Northern Sumi region belonged to the Sumi tribe and not to the Lotha or Ao tribes.
In the light of the matter, the memo while requesting the Government to furnish the relevant documents/orders on the basis of which the exercise of demarcation was undertaken, warned that in the event remedial measures are not taken at the earliest, the Northern Sumi Region would be compelled to seek appropriate remedy. The 19 villages are Atuphumi, Shihaphumi, Zuxushe, Woji Old, Woji New, Azuhoto, Vioshe, Amboto Old, Amboto New, Shevukhu, Mithihe, Aghautito, Aqahuto, Ghoqheto, Vikuto, Akuhaiqa, Khakuthato, Sumito and Asukho New.
Also apprising of the events preceding the demarcation, the memorandum stated that the DCs of both Mokokchung and Wokha District camped at Akuhaiqa Village on January 10. On enquiring next morning from the officials by the Head GB it was learnt that the Home Commissioner had directed that the Northern Sumi Region be demarcated into 2 blocks merging each with respective districts, Mokokchung and Wokha. Although opposed by the villagers against the move, the memo stated that the officials nevertheless planted boundary stones as demarcation for the region. “The result of the demarcation is that 7 villages of the Northern Sumi Region are in Mokokchung district while the remaining 12 are in Wokha district” the memo stated and observed that the fact itself established the hands of vested interest.
Further, buttressing its stand against the demarcation, the villages stated that Atuphumi Village was permitted by the Assam Government to set up a village in 1953 in the valley of Desai. From the year 1961 the Northern Sumis began establishing a village in the valley. However from 1967 the Assam Government started claiming the region as belonging to Assam State leading to wide atrocities on the settled Sumis in the area till 1969. “Up till now the Government of Assam has posted Police in Desai Valley guarding us and monitoring every movement of the said villages” the memo stated.
Basing on this fact the Northern Sumi Region urged the Nagaland Government to reconsider the directives of the Home Commissioner of dividing the said region into two administrative blocks respective to Mokokchung and Wokha and instead make it into one block.
