Masangum
Jalukie | August 28
About 30 houses in Jalukie Zangdi village under Peren district were razed by cadres of the NSCN-IM at around 7:30 this morning by about 15 cadres of the outfit. Reports said that the incident is an outcome of a boundary dispute between the said village and Munglumukh village, which is under Jalukie. It is said that the NSCN-IM is in support of the latter village and that the torching of the houses were was an attempt to evict the Jalukie Zangdi villagers.
Women of the village tried to prevent their houses from being torched but the NSCN-IM cadres went ahead using kerosene and petrol. The cadres are said to have given the pretext for the action as being orders from the “high command” of the NSCN-IM. Reports also said that some of the women incurred injuries during the whole melee when they tried to prevent the cadres. Sources said that the group of cadres was led by one ‘Tatar’ acting on orders to evict them from the village. The women are said to have queried the cadres if they (women) were not Nagas and that the cadres themselves are born of women. The cadres are said to have retorted that ‘we are born of women but we were also taught to kill.’ Further reports said that a house belonging to an NSCN-IM “Major” in the torched area was left untouched while the other houses were razed.
The villagers are also said to have informed that they have settled in the area for about five years and no such problems were encountered. The land had been given by the Jalukie people and is with permission, they said.
Following the torching of their houses, enraged women from Jalukie Zangdi village marched to the NSCN-IM’s Hebron Camp and demanded justice. The women demanded to meet with the collective leadership but were denied entry. Sources further informed that one high ranking bureaucrat of the NSCN-IM is said to have told the women that Jalukie Zangdi village does not belong to the Zelaingrong community but the “Kachari” people and “Mias.”
About 16 of the houses razed were inhabited by families, while others included granaries and hutments, sources said. The affected families are shocked that the organization should turn on the families who, sources said, profess support to the Nagas’ cause and the peace process. This treatment amounts to chasing away a Naga by the Nagas from own land, it added.
Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong students (ZSU and AZSU) have condemned the “STF command” of the NSCN-IM and the high ranking ‘bureaucrat’ and also expressed strong resentment and unhappiness with what the latter said. The students’ organizations have expressed shock that such action should be meted out by the NSCN-IM. Further, the Jalukie Students’ Union has said that the boundary issue should be settled by the Old Jalukie Council authorities amicably and that the NSCN-IM should not interfere in the matter.
Jalukie administration and police led by the SDO Zarenthung Ezung rushed to the spot after receiving news of the incident. The situation is tense but under control. A report to the effect is expected to be forwarded to the government.
