Diezephe, Tsithrongse villages asked to maintain ‘status quo’

DIMAPUR — The Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Abhinav Shivam said that both Diezephe and Tsithrongse villages have been asked to maintain the ‘status quo’ as per the directives of the Supreme Court of India.

This was informed during an interaction with media persons on Monday, after a meeting with the ADC of Chümoukedima, EAC of Seithekema, chairmen of Diezephe and Tsithrongse village councils, president of Tenyimia Union Dimapur and president of Eastern Nagaland People Union (ENPU) Dimapur, with regard to a land dispute between the two villages.

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Addressing the media at the DC’s office complex in Chümoukedima, Shivam expressed regret over the ‘highly unfortunate’ events that transpired on February 10.

During today’s meeting, it became evident that individuals had formed personalised perceptions regarding the directives of the High Court and the Supreme Court and due to this misinformation; emotions ran high, ultimately resulting in the regrettable clash on Saturday, the DC said.

The DC observed that the entire incident and its history could be categorised into two major aspects. The first involves the dispute over land ownership, and the second pertains to the law and order situation and both of these issues were addressed in today’s meeting, he said.

Furthermore, he mentioned that when the meeting commenced, the acrimony was palpable, but by the end of it, a sense of reason and understanding prevailed.

During the meeting, the legal position of the matter, the decision of the Supreme Court, and the details mentioned in the High Court were discussed and clarified.

The district administration also made an appeal to the good sense of both the villagers, as well as the leaders of tribal hohos and expressed their belief that the villagers and tribal leaders would heed their counsel, understanding the situation. The disputed area spans approximately 2 puras.

When questioned about the blank firing incident on Saturday, Shivam replied that he has directed the ADCP and DCP to investigate the matter as it is a serious issue and adequate measure would be taken against it.

On queries about the police force’s preparedness for any potential law and order issues in the coming days, he replied that they have held discussions with the police and also mentioned that the tribal hoho’s have provided assurance that there will be no such incidents.

He also stated that as a follow-up to today’s meeting, the tribal hoho will sit with their respective villagers and subsequently, representatives from the two villages will engage in a discussion. The DC also mentioned that the matter goes back as far as 1996 when the first case was filed and that the technicality of the matter is still sub-judice.

When asked about potential avenues for settling the matter, the DC responded that there are only two options. The first involves both parties going to the High Court to obtain a judgment. The second option is for the two villages to recognise the need to come together, learn to coexist, and utilise existing mechanisms for addressing grievances. Resorting to vandalism is not a civilised way to handle the situation, he asserted.

Shivam also expressed that Chümoukedima is a land of opportunities and the development of Nagaland will be dependent upon the district’s prosperity as well. The district will be the growth engine for Nagaland, with the crucial prerequisite being the establishment of peace, he emphasised.

To foster peace, there is a need to develop effective mechanisms for resolving conflicts, he went on to state, adding that even within the same community, disputes may arise, but the key is to learn how to address and resolve them in a civilised manner.