Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): The District Administration, Meluri has imposed Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) “within the whole of disputed area between Lephori and Mollen village restricting movement of 2 (Two) or more persons with or without arms with immediate effect.”
In an order issued on May 1, the Additional District Magistrate, Tinojungshi Chang stated that the 144 CrPC was imposed with the apprehension that the situation arising out of a land dispute between the two villages may “further aggravate and there is likely to be law and order problems within Meluri Sub-Division” if strict measure are not taken.
According to the order, an incident of clashes between the two villages over land dispute was reported on April 30 during which a villager from one side was injured.
The ADM, thereafter, issued “directive to both the village councils not to aggravate the situation and to restrain their villagers from taking the law into their own hand since security personnel are already stationed in both sides of the disputed area.”
However, it noted that defying the directive issued by the District Administration and also request from tribal leaders of Pochury to both the villagers to maintain peace in the interest of Pochury tribe, one side retaliated on May 1 burning down the huts of paddy fields belonging to the other village.
The incident has further aggravated the “already tense situation and also there are confirmed report of involvement of neighbouring villagers” in support of one village though the “disputed Land is purely between Lephori and Mollen village,” it added. In this regard, the prohibitory order restricting movement of 2 (two) or more persons was imposed by the Administration in view of possible law and order problems within Meluri Sub-Division.
