Dimapur, July 3 (MExN): The Chungtia Village Council (CVC) has reportedly ‘revoked’ the village citizenship of T Chalukumba, who contested in the elections to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, held on February 27.
A notification published on a local vernacular daily on July 2 by the Chungtia Medemchanger Putu Menden informed that it took the decision during its meeting on June 30.
He was charged of violating ‘sobaliba’ and his status as a citizen of Chungtia thus revoked for life, the notification stated.
Roughly translated, ‘sobaliba’ in the Ao Naga community life, can refer to broad ethical or moral principles as well as customary practices and way of life that guides the people.
Meanwhile, the notification appended by representatives of 14 clans in the CVC, also cautioned the villagers against sheltering him.
Chalukumba contested the State Assembly polls 2023 as a Janata Dal (United) candidate from the 28 Koridang seat.
Prior to the election, he had filed a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench challenging a resolution passed on December 28, 2021 by Chungtia Citizens Forum (Chungtia Senso Mungdang) designating a “consensus candidate of the village for the 28 Koridang A/C” in the then upcoming 2023 elections. Thereafter, the CVC issued a ‘consequential notice’ “informing and warning all the villagers” of penalty of 7 pigs if they went against the aforesaid resolution.
During the hearing of the petition, however, the CVC submitted to the Court on December 13, 2022 that it withdrew/revoked the resolution as well as the other ‘consequential’ notices.
In view of the submission, the single-judge bench disposed the petition as “infructuous.”
Eventually, the 28 Koridang AC witnessed a 4-way contest, marked by pre-poll violence, including one murder. The BJP’s Imkong L Imchen won the seat.
