Morung Express News
Kohima | March 19
The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland and All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (AMN), who are spearheading the move to protect Ntanki National park from illegal encroachers and loggers and is demanding for eviction of all illegal settlements within their jurisdiction said that the ‘invasive and dominance policy’ of the land mongers has triggerd fears and uncertainties in their land.
The two students’ bodies in a joint statement issued today at a sit-in dharna at the MLA hostel junction said that the aggressive attitude adopted by land mongers has reversed the 125 years of Christianity in Nagaland to that of savagery, days of head hunting, where might was always right.
The ZSUN and AZSU also said that for the last many years some selfish groups of people and land mongers have been trying to encroached Ntanki National park, establishing villages and forming ‘Union of Ntanki Island’ with ulterior motive. They said that these land encroachers are misleading the general Nagas by coining certain phrases like ‘Ntanki Forest is no-mans land’ etc.
“There is not an inch of Nagas land without land owner. The slogan like ‘no man land’ use by encroachers is the most dangerous policy prevailing in the Naga society today”, the statement said.
The simple Beisumpuikam villagers parted a portion of Ntanki forest to the government for protection and preservation for the use of future generations of the Nagas, but not for the establishment of play fields for the land mongers. However, some people have started felling trees and establishing villages inside the forest by using the name and arms of the NSCN.
The land in question has never been compensated by the government to Beisumpuikam village, though the latter have declared it as reserved forest with prior permission of land owner. It may also be mentioned here that Ntanki was declared as reserved forest by the British during the middle part of 1923. After they left, it was handed over to the Assam government and subsequently to the Government of Nagaland. It was JH Hutton the then DC of Kohima who proposed for creation of reserved forest at Ntanki valley.
“It is surprising and unfortunate that a Home Secretary of the NSCN (IM) with his full arms and man power used to guard all this illegal activities of land mangers for reason best known to them. The modus operandi of using NSCN (IM) to acquire and intimidate has even left the Forest department helpless since they are not equipped to deal with such a situation,” said the statement issued by the two students’ bodies.
Besides, the Union have been demanding the eviction of Khyeto B, Khehevi, Chikuto, Pukhaho, Vihoto, Shikuto, Kiyavi B and others villages, which has been established illegally under Dhansaripar sub-division and Peren district, and to stop all process of recognizing these villages by the state government. It said that these villages are trying to get recognition from the state government by obtaining NOC with the backing of powerful politicians after fooling the district.
The statement categorically asserted that the Zeliangrong people have borders only with the Angamis since time immemorial. The agitators today put forth 4 points charter of demands, which included protection of Ntanki National park and immediate eviction of all land mongers, immediate implementation of proposed land exchange deal between the Forest department and Beisumpuikam village, eviction and stoppage of all government process for recognition of illegal villages in the Zeliangrong land of Dhansaripar sub-division and Peren district and immediate demarcation of Peren and Dimapur district boundary.
The Zeliangrong students has also appeal to all peace loving Nagas to respect each other traditional boundaries, and condemn all selfish motives of the ‘land mongers’ and their illegal activities so as to build a strong and great Naga Nation.
Meanwhile, Commissioner TN Mannen today that the state government is yet to meet and discuss on the issue. Asked whether, the state government has initiated any protective measures as discuss in the last cabinet meeting Mannen, said that the state government is likely to meet tomorrow. It may also meet the NSCN-IM authority on the issue, the commissioner said.
