Dimapur, July 15 (MExN): There have been reports that the dispute that has been going on in Changki village has worsened, with allegations of ‘inhuman acts’ imposed against members of the Changkiri (Enrem) clan who have been expelled from Changki Senso in connection with what was described as “an unfortunate issue of village founding clans”.
Reports have emerged that in the last three weeks, several members of Changkiri (Enrem) clan have been expelled from the village. Three members were expelled for an alleged crime of gardening next to their houses. A GB of the clan was also expelled for writing a complaint letter to the Ao Senden. An aged widow staying with her daughter has been expelled for the fact that the daughter is married into another clan of the village. Another member of the clan, heeding the order of the Ao Senden, cultivated his own jhum land only to be expelled by the village authority which has defied the standing order of the Ao Senden.
According to reports, the most recent incidents in Changki follow the untimely death of a young man on July 2, 2009, who was serving as an Assistant Project Officer in the RD Department, Government of Nagaland. The mortal remains of the deceased, which was brought from Guwahati, was accompanied by a host of friends and relatives from Mariani including two brothers of the mother of the deceased. After much persuasion, the two brothers decided not to enter the village because of what was stated to be “the existing village laws” and thereby returned from the village gate itself. Following the incident it was reported that the deceased mother’s own elder brother, aged 81 years, the only closest relative in the village, who went to her home to help organize funeral arrangements, has now been expelled from the village just because he visited the family of his sister to share the sorrows and extend help for the funeral.
Further three persons belonging to another clan who went to the elder brother’s house to collect a pig donated by him for the funeral have now been fined one pig each. These three people were not from the Changkiri (Enrem) clan and their alleged crime was that they had gone into the house of a Changkiri (Enrem) besides helping the bereaved parents by collecting pigs and other essential requirements for the funeral service. Likewise, an uncle of the deceased, who had also visited the bereaved home on hearing the news of the death, was expelled from the village even before the dead body arrived. According to sources, the Pastor who conducted the funeral service has also been served notice for action.
It may be mentioned that, the apex body of the Aos, the ‘Ao Senden’ has officially directed in March 2009 that no Changki villager shall be allowed to hold post or participate in any bodies or programmes of the Ao community under the overall authority of the Ao Senden. It was learned that this “action was taken following the defiance of directives given by the Ao Senden to Changki Village in July 2008, directives that were meant to restore peace and human rights in Changki village”. The Changki village leaders have reportedly not complied with this authority.
Grand old teacher expelled
Dimapur, July 15 (MExN): He is 81 years old and a retired teacher hailing from Changki village under Mokokchung District. A winner of National Teachers Award in 1984, I. Limameren is today without a home. On July 14, Limameren left the village he grew up in, his home and his ailing wife on the orders of the village authority (Putu Menden). The 81 year old was expelled from Changki village because he had gone to the home of his elder sister, whose son had passed away at Guwahati. Despite certain restrictions imposed in the village against his clan, Limameren was left with no choice but to convey the news of his nephew’s death to the parents; both elderly people.
According to reports received, the deceased’s father is a Reverend in Changki Village who now lives a retired life after being handicapped by an illness. The mother of the deceased is also physically challenged. Limameren is the maternal uncle of the deceased, and the only closest relative in the village.
The former teacher has now been expelled from the village for visiting his sister’s house. According to Limameren, who has now taken shelter with one of his children in Dimapur, he was summoned by the Putu Menden on July 13 and verbally ordered to leave the village by 7:00am the next day i.e. July 14. The old man is now hoping and praying for ‘good sense to prevail’ and cannot wait to return to his ailing wife in the village. He is hoping that the Ao Senden, the apex body of the Ao Nagas, will mediate and resolve whatever impasse there is over the Changki village imbroglio.
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