Dimapur, June 16 (MExN): The Railway Affected Landowners Association (RALOA) has condemned recent statements made by the Nagaland Tree Planters’ Association (NTPA), calling them “blunt, provocative and misleading” in connection with the ongoing land ownership dispute surrounding the Dimapur Railway Station area.
Reacting to a press statement issued by the NTPA on June 15 urging the state government to clear encroachments at the railway station, RALOA said the tree planters’ body had displayed “total ignorance of the crux of the issue” and accused it of creating “social chaos and confusion.”
In a statement issued Monday, RALOA said that “from the inception of Railways in Dimapur by the Britishers to the creation of Nagaland state in 1963 and till date, not a single act of requisition or acquisition has been carried out between the Railways and the Nagas — be it the government, village authority or individual landowners.”
RALOA asserted that only the new railway line extending to Zubza via Shokhuvi has been compensated by the Railways. “Besides that, not even an inch of land has been compensated — between Sangtamtilla to Niu Colony connecting Khatkhati,” the association claimed.
Referencing Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution, RALOA reminded that the provision was introduced to protect the rights and livelihoods of the Nagas, including ownership of land and its resources. “RALOA shall leave no stone unturned to see that the rights of the Nagas are protected at any cost,” the group stated.
In a rebuttal to NTPA’s assertion that the Dimapur railway land had been compensated, RALOA challenged the association to publicly disclose documentary proof. “RALOA invites NTPA to furnish all the details—date, time, year, rate and total amount of land compensation made—and submit the same to the office of RALOA within a period of two weeks,” it said.
The statement added that failing to do so would result in NTPA being “solely held responsible for any untoward eventuality.”
