Dimapur Airport land case: State denies sanction against three officers

DIMAPUR — Nagaland government has declined to grant prosecution sanction under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) against three senior officers—B Henok Buchem, T Lankonsen Tsanglao, and Longasen Lotha—in connection with the State Crime Police Station (SCPS) Case No. 02/2022, pertaining to alleged encroachment of Dimapur Airport under Diphupar village.

In a letter dated October 7, the officer-in-charge of SCPS relayed this information to the public prosecutor (PP), Dimapur.

Citing an official report dated September 17, received from the office of Nagaland commissioner, the police officer informed the PP that “the competent authority has not recommended prosecution sanction against 3 NCS officers.”

They were Henok B Buchem, the then Revenue Officer, Dimapur, and current Deputy Commissioner of Kohima; T Lankonsen Tsanglao, the then EAC (Revenue) Dimapur, and current ADC of Mangkolemba; and Longasen Lotha, the then EAC (Revenue) Dimapur, and current ADC of Tseminyu.

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The police officer added that reports in respect of three more government servants have not been received yet. The trio was identified as Pimomo Lotha, K Vikheto Zhimomi, and Alovito Zhimomi—all of them employed as Record Keeper (Surveyor) at the directorate of Land Record and Survey.

These six government servants were among the 31 individuals named by the state police in its chargesheet submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Dimapur, on May 30 this year.

The chargesheet, accessed by Eastern Mirror, also lists 25 others: Hokato Yeptho (Vusshe), Inato Yeptho, Hekhevi Yeptho, Kughalu Yeptho, Omega K Yeptho, Linovi H Zhimo, Toshili Sumi, Vinoka Chishi, Shikai T Tuccu, Sensotemjen, Heito Sumi, Kivikhu Kiho, Hokashe Murru, N Suhuto Chishi, K Pushito Murru, Hoshito Shohe, Tito Yeptho, Akaho Zhimo, S Hotoi Sema, Tokihe Chishi, Kakheto Yeptho, H Inoto Murru, C Yang Khiamniungan, Asuka Albert Sumi, and Akuto Yeptho.

On June 20 this year, the CJM, Dimapur, heard the case and perused the chargesheet along with other relevant materials submitted by the investigating agency.

The court, “upon satisfaction with the materials and finding a prima facie case,” took cognisance of the case against the 25 others under Sections 403, 415, 418, 420, and 441 of the IPC.

As for the six government servants, the court did not take cognisance “in the absence of prosecution sanction against them.”

Consequently, it directed the investigating officer (IO) to “take steps to expedite prosecution sanction” against the six accused under Section 218 of the BNSS.

Ekaranipathar, not Diphupar

In an official communication dated June 19, 2025, Nagaland Commissioner KS Anden Konyak conveyed to the Commissioner and Secretary of P&AR department that, after detailed examination of the case records and evidence, the request for prosecution sanction “does not arise and is hereby not recommended” against the three NCS officers.

According to the commissioner’s report, the documents cited in the chargesheet—including pattas, jamabandis, mutation orders, and gift deeds—pertained to the Ekaranipathar area, not the Dimapur Airport land, and were issued in lieu of old existing records, not fresh allotments.

It stated that the three officers were not in service when the original allotment was made in 2004, and the actions taken by them later were “routine administrative duties” based on available revenue records.

It further stated that the officers had no role in the allotment or rectification of government land and, in fact, were among those who initiated the cancellation process once the wrongful occupation was detected.

“Such officers should be protected from any frivolous or malicious prosecution for actions taken in their official capacity,” the commissioner wrote, recommending that prosecution sanction against them be denied.

The report also pointed out that the land allotments and subsequent mutations were cancelled in 2019, following which eviction operations were carried out and the land handed over to the Airport Authority of India.

The commissioner cited the Gauhati High Court judgement dated May 27, 2025, which also observed that the land under dispute at Ekaranipathar was distinct from the land illegally occupied at Diphupar, confirming a case of encroachment by private individuals.