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Dimapur, Sep. 29 (EMN): The Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) on Wednesday served an ultimatum to the government of Nagaland, demanding not to shift the Deputy Commissioner's Office from the present location to the new complex in Chümoukedima for the welfare of Dimapur citizens.
The ultimatum signed by Dimapur-based civil societies was submitted to the chief minister of state through the deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan.
This came weeks after the state’s Home department issued a notification on September 7 for shifting of District Election Office and Disaster Management cell to the new DC office complex.
Addressing the gathering at the DC office on Wednesday, DDCF President Yibemo Kikon said that several representations opposing the shifting of DC office had been made in the past- in 2014, 2015 and 2021.
He said that Dimapur-based civil societies had resolved at an emergency meeting not to allow any move to relocate the DC office “in part or as a whole from the present location”, stating that it’s ‘logistically located’.
The ultimatum stated that the “DC office must remain in the present location and should never be shifted elsewhere”, and the state government should cancel the Home department’s Sep. 7 order and all orders/notices with regard to shifting of the DC office and remove the tag “HQ: Chümoukedima; Camp: Dimapur” from the letter head of DC Dimapur within five days with effect from Sep. 29.
“In the event of such forceful move leading to any unwanted incidents, the civil societies and its affiliated bodies would not be held responsible,” it read.
It maintained that “the present DC office is located in a cadastral land, which means it is in an urban area. Shifting it would entail tremendous hardship for the citizens of Dimapur as more than 50% of the total population of Dimapur district live under Dimapur Sadar sub division”.
“Unlike other districts of Nagaland, Dimapur has three revenue areas and is also the commercial capital of the state. For which the DC of Dimapur is also the district collector,” it read, adding that the democratically elected representatives should consider the interest of the people while taking such sensitive decision.
“There is a clear apprehension of tension leading to unrest if the government goes ahead with the decision to shift the headquarters elsewhere,” it stated.
Expressing surprise over the posting of an ADC in the office of EAC Chümoukedima, it said “no proper system seems to have been followed” though may be the prerogative of the state government to put in place such administrative arrangements. “People are aware that between EAC and ADC, there is another post of SDO (Civil),” it added.
In a press release, the DDCF expressed appreciation to all the Dimapur-based CSOs, tribal and non tribal communities for coming together for submitting the ultimatum to the CM. While expressing regret for the inconveniences caused, it thanked the police personnel, traffic officials and administration for their assistance during the day.
On the total shutter-down call on Thursday from 6 am to 6 pm to show resentment over the government’s recent order for ‘shifting of branches/cells to new Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Chümoukedima’, it clarified that medical dealers, pharmacies, educational institutions, government and private offices, and movement of pedestrians and vehicles are exempted from the bandh.