JCCV demands inclusion of Dhansiripar in Dimapur district

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 10 (EMN): Joint Coordination Committee of Villages (JCCV) for Dimapur district has demanded the Nagaland government to rectify the inclusion of the existing area of Dhansiripar sub-division under Chumuokedima district. 

It stated that the status of 45 villages (recognised and unrecognised villages) under Dhansiripar sub-division should not be disturbed and placed under the administrative jurisdiction of DC Dimapur as before.

The committee, during a peaceful rally on Thursday, also demanded the state government to make necessary modifications on the stated notification by Feb. 28, 2022, failing which the JCCV would resort to further ‘severe steps’ till their demand is achieved.

Thousands of participants from villages under Dhansiripar sub-division took part in the rally with placards, some of which read as: “Dimapur is my birthright and I shall have it”; “This is about tyranny and freedom”; “Government can’t dictate on our desires”; “We love Dimapur” and “Reject forceful inclusion under Chumuokedima”. 

Addressing journalists after the rally, JCCV spokesperson K Naben maintained that after enquiring from each village under Dhansiripar sub-division, it came to their notice that no village was asked or consulted by the government on the amalgamation with Chumoukedima district. 

‘However, some villages around Urra area were consulted while others were left out for reasons best known by the government. Despite the memorandum by the JCCV, the government never cared to invite the committee or know of our desires’, the spokesperson maintained.

“The government may have taken this decision for good or it may be a bad decision which they will know, but we are not pleased to be part of the Chumuokedima district. We Dimasas particularly have emotional attachment with Dimapur. Dimapur has become a very small district in area wise with just 69 sq.km and we are not happy with the government’s approach towards us under the Dhansiripar sub-division”, he asserted.

The Committee also affirmed that if there is any notification from the Dimapur district administration, they would comply and follow the order but ‘not to any notification from the Chumuokedima district office’.

 “The government made a mistake by not taking the consent of the concerned people for bifurcation of the district”, the committee pointed out.  

Dhansiripar sub-division Sema-Dimasa Union president Vekuto Swu stated that the government was on “divide and rule policy without consultation” and questioned on how the district status was given without boundary demarcation. He also called on the government to listen to the people’s pleas even if the decision has been taken by the Cabinet.

Convenor of JCCV LK Swu also questioned the status of the villages under Dhansiripar sub-division, where he pointed out that the sub-division was placed under the Peren map earlier and now placed with Chumuokedima’.

Co-convenor of JCCV Tsithrongse Sangtam asserted that ‘it was the people who made the government and even tomorrow, it will be the people who will decide the government’.

‘So the government should not disregard the sentiments of the people and their genuine demand,’ he said.

A memorandum was submitted by the JCCV addressed to the Chief Secretary through the SDO (Civil) Dhansiripar on the various meetings and submission of memorandum that took place after the amalgamation of the sub-division under Chumuokedima district.

It mentioned that on Dec. 22, 2021 the Sema-Dimasa Union and the GB Union Aqahuto Dimapur submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister expressing the agitation against the government’s notification, while pledging to remain an integrated and inseparable part of Dimapur; while on Jan. 6 2022, an open letter was written by the committee to the state CM to reconsider the notification on or before Jan. 20, 2022.