The Zapami Village Council condemns the PEVIMA KHEL(THSUMI) of Tungjoy village, Senapati District, Manipur for carrying out illegal activities by cultivating and encroaching the land in the Reserve Forest of Zapami village under Phek district of Nagaland. The Pevima Khel of Tungjoy is also violating the Watershed principle of two states boundary in the form of cultivation well within in the state of Nagaland in spite of the clear inter-state boundary line being demarcated by the Watershed Principle by Capt. Butler and Dr. Gordon during the time of British regime in 1872. The same was issued by the then Assam Government as official notification confirming ‘1872 Boundary Demarcation’ on 25th November 1925. Watershed principle demarcates that the water which falls from Kapamedzu Peak to Telezu Peak towards Barak River, the land belongs to the Sate of Nagaland.
In this regard, the youths of Zapami village have raised serious objections on several occasions for violating Watershed principle of two state boundary by Pevina Khel of Tungjoy village. To express strong disapproval, the youths destroyed/seized some planks, vegetables, hammer and saw, etc. from the encroachers in the year 1986, 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2012. Consequently thereafter, the encroachers stopped from their illegal activities in our land but was temporary. Pevina Khel of Tungjoy village however continue to encroach on our rightful land by stealing natural resources and destroying our prime forest for cultivation till date in spite of the assurance given by the Tungjoy village authority not to encroach other’s land.
Under such circumstances, having left with no other alternative, the Zapami village authority has written complaint letter each to Pevina Khel of Tungjoy, addressed to the then Deputy Commissioner Phek, Nagaland and Tungjoy Village Council Chairman to immediately intervene and stop the Tungjoy villagers, Manipur from their illegal activities in Nagaland state. Immediately the District Administration, Govt. of Nagaland deputed their subordinate staff to boarder areas between Nagaland and Manipur states for actual spot assessment and found that the villagers of Tungjoy-Manipur encroached the land of Nagaland state. Meanwhile, the Zapami village authority has express gratitude to the Phek district Administrations and Police for their prompt action.
On 2nd August, 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner of Phek, Nagaland and the Deputy Commissioner Senapati, Manipur held a joint meeting at Kohima with regard to the land encroachment between Nagaland and Manipur state boundary. Both the authorities re-affirmed that the inter-state boundary runs along with Watershed principle. However, instead of honouring and adhering to the decision of two states District Administrations, the Pevima Khel of Tungjoy village willfully continue to violate the order and continue to encroach the land which belongs to Zapami of Nagaland state.
On 10th September 2012, the youths of Zapami village apprehended two persons Shri. BUNI CHAUMAI and Shri. M. MAIKHO BUOPUOMAI from Pevima Khel of Tungjoy village while they were cultivating well within the Nagaland State land and the two were handed over to the Police Station Pfutsero, Nagaland. Soon they were released from the Police custody on the condition that they will stop do any illegal activities within the Nagaland State land in the near future.
The Zapami Village Council appeals to the Government of Nagaland to establish one Police Platoon post at the border area between Nagaland and Manipur states boundary to restrain the Pevima Khel of Tungjoy village of Manipur to encroach our Land and so as to maintain peace and tranquility between the two states and avoid any further unwanted confrontation or create any tension in the future.
The Zapami village authority reminds the Pevima Khel of Tungjoy of Manipur state that the villagers would not tolerate any attempt to re-encroach or do any illegal activities within the land of Zapami village of Nagaland State.The Zapami village authority further said that they will be doing so at their own risk and the Zapami village authority will not be held responsible for any untoward incidents/action against the encroachers by the youths of Zapami village youth in safeguarding the land which rightfully belongs to the Zapami village of Nagaland. The village authority appeals to all the right thinking people of Nagaland to condemn such unscrupulous and illegal activities of Pevima Khel of Tungjoy village, Manipur.
DILHI KREO
Chairman,
Zapami Village Council
District Phek, Nagaland.
