DIMAPUR, AUGUST 8 (MExN): The Nagaland Zeliang Peoples' Organization (NZPO), the Zeliangrong Baudi (N), the Zeme Council (N), and the Liangmai Council (N) have informed that they would impose an indefinite blockade of NH 129 A starting August 10.
A joint statement from Kevipele Iheilung, President, NZPO; CR Zeliang, President, ZB (N); Dr Tumda Newme, President, Zeme Council (N); and Khenglubo, President, Liangmai Council (N) said that the blockade would continue till the government evicts the “illegal inhabitants of the erstwhile Kiyevi Village; evict the unrecognized illegal encroacher self-styled villages of Kehoi, Vihuto, Jacob Zhimomi, Pushito and Aliwo; recall/revoke the list of damage compensation under package 3, two lane National Highway 129A in respect of the erstwhile Kiyevi Village; and immediately take into custody and bring to book the perpetrators of the murder of three men from Lamhainamdi Village on March 22, 2021.”
The statement claimed that the villages and lands in question are “traditional Zeliang land belonging to Lamhai Village.”
“In fact, the Zeliang land includes the Dhansiripar area of Dimapur and traditionally the Zeliangs had boundary only with the Chakro Angamis and none other,” it stated. The organizations said that “historically, the Sumi tribe has no legitimate claim whatsoever over the land belonging to the Zeliang people.”
“The original Kiyevi Village, which was established with permission of Lamhai Village, shifted to the Rangapahar forest area in 1979-80 and subsequently was renamed as Kiyeto Village. The present residents at the erstwhile Kiyevi village are illegal encroachers with anti-social ties who have set up residence without obtaining permission from, and without the knowledge of, the Lamhai Village. Instead of seeking permission from the Lamhai Village in accordance with the traditional Naga custom, the encroachers have forced their way upon the land and have been committing acts of murder,” it alleged.
The statement further listed out incidents of violence since 1976, and said that, “the Lamhai Village and the Zeliang Tribe never reacted in kind, but had sought justice from the State, which never came.” “On the other hand, officials of the State have sided with the perpetrators of the crime by permitting them freedom in their developmental activities on the land while suppressing the original landowners by restricting them from taking up any developmental work on their own land,” it claimed.
It expressed disappointment that despite several representation, the “perpetrators of the murder on March 22, 2021 who were arrested have been set free for reasons best known to the authority.” The organizations said that they can no longer wait for justice to be done. “The moment has arrived for us to take a stand and here we shall stand, and there shall be no turning back,” they added.
