Dimapur, March 25 (MExN): The Aqahuto GBs Union issued a communiqué on March 25 regarding the dispute which led to the unfortunate deaths of three persons on March 22.
It stated that the people of Aqahuto Area are shocked and saddened by the loss of lives and while newspapers in the State have carried reports about the unfortunate incident, social media posts are overflowing with hateful comments against the people of Aqahuto Area.
The ugly face of tribalism is knocking at our door, it stated, adding that the Sumi community in general and the Sumis residing in Aqahuto Area have become the targets of hatemongers, it claimed.
As such, the GBs Union of the Aqahuto Area asserted that the issue between Kiyevi villagers and persons claiming to be Lamhainamdi villagers “is not a tribal issue between the Sumi and Zeliang tribes.” It is most unfortunate that a tribal twist has been introduced, with all manner of bodies, organizations and individuals, vociferously contributing inflammatory opinions, it added.
While stressing that the Union does not justify the killing of any person, it sought to clarify its stand regarding the dispute.
The villages in the Aqahuto Area have not been established on lands belonging to other villages and/or communities, the Union stated and added that “Any person/community who claims land within the territories of Aqahuto Area is welcome to establish his/her claim.”
Records maintained by the Government will show that none of the villages in the Agahuto Area have been established on lands belonging to other villages/communities, it stated.
It also termed that the Lamhai village’s claim to be the owner of all lands till Chumukedima is “legally untenable.”
In 2019, people claiming to be from Lamhai village sought to establish a new village named Lamhainamdi, it said.
Contrary to popular perception, Lamhai Namdi is not the old Lamhai village but a new village sought to be established by people claiming from Lamhai village,” it added.
The new village was attempted to be established on land belonging to Kiyevi village. Upon investigation, the authorities directed the so called Lamhainamdi village to be evicted, it further stated.
The Union further alleged that people claiming from Lamhai village were again attempting to establish the same village on the lands of Kiyevi village, causing huge destruction of tree plantations, including valuable teak trees above 30/40 years of age.
In addition, the said group of people intruded into farmlands and forcefully encroached and constructed temporary shelters with the help of armed persons, the Union alleged.
“The armed persons patrolled the encroached areas and threatened dire consequences upon Kiyevi villagers. At night, they even fired live rounds in the direction of the habitations of Kiyevi village,” it added.
The Aqahuto GBs Union claimed that these acts of coercion, threats, intimidation and forceful encroachment of village lands appears to have sparked the violence, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths of three persons on March 22.
Further alleging that the Government is protecting encroachers into Kiyevi village lands, the Union sought certain measures to be taken.
The status quo ordered by the Government in the year 2019 must be respected and enforced, it stated.
Further it stated that the Sumi villages have not encroached into the lands of Lamhai village which is situated in the interiors of Peren District beyond Jalukie town, far removed from Kiyevi village and the Aqahuto Area.
The place of occurrence in the recent incident is on the lands of Kiyevi village, where the new village Lamhainamdi is sought to be established, it said refuting social media reports that the lands of Lamhai village are being encroached.
Inspite of complaints by Kiyevi village, both the Administration of Peren and Dimapur Districts have not restrained the encroachers from encroaching into Kiyevi village land, it said.
It however maintained that the dispute is not a tribal issue and urged leaders of both the communities to ensure that the matter does not get out of hand.
The Union said that the communiqué has been issued “without malice” and hoped that its views would be taken in the proper perspective.
