A Staff Reporter
Dimapur, April 14
Heralwa Lui Council (HLC) in Peren district is contemplating to file FIR against the Deputy Commissioner, Peren, for his alleged infringement of the court’s stay order to maintain status quo even as several houses were allegedly damaged and about six persons were forcibly deported to Jalukie today.
According to the appellant, Heralwa traditional village was established in the 18th century. However, because of intra-tribe conflict, the villagers of Heralwa village had to leave the village in which the villagers placed their land into the care and protection of Peren village in good faith. This was done with the understanding that Peren village would relinquish the land when the people of Heralwa would return, HLC added.
Dispute arose when the descendants of Heralwa re-established the village in 1961 in which the Peren village reportedly claimed them to be encroachers. Subsequently, the district authority on June 18, 2009, and August 28 ordered eviction which was challenged through a writ petition by the Heralwa village.
In the light of the above controversy, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on May 21, 2015, passed the judgement which called for spot verification to be carried out by independent authority. The court also ordered status quo regarding possession of land in respective of Heralwa village.
In contravention to the stay order, Heralwa village claimed that Peren villagers carried out eviction drive on June 20, 2015 in which 38 houses were razed and inflicting injuries to eight persons besides damage to standing crops, according to HLC.
Following the incident, Heralwa village filed a writ petition, which compelled the court to issue another order on October 7, 2015, which entailed the Deputy Commissioner, Peren, to ensure the status quo passed by the court on May 21, 2015, till the case is finally disposed off. The order also directed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that no incident of violence or intimidation of any kind takes place, while adding that violation of status quo would be viewed seriously by the court.
Following this, the Deputy Commissioner had also issued a restraint order directing both parties to maintain status quo and to restrain themselves from any activities in the disputed area till such time the court issue further direction/ order.
Accusing the Deputy Commissioner of violating the court’s standing order, Heralwa Lui Council alleged that on April 12 midnight last, the administration dispatched about ten Nagaland police personnel and Dobashis led by Head DB Lungrai along with Abam and Heiziedi in which one hut was set afire. It also questioned the motive of the DBs whether they had come on their own interest or on the directive of the administration.
Even as the news briefing was being held at Hotel Saramati this morning, sources informed that Nagaland police personnel led by some Dobashis had destroyed hutment and forcibly deported some persons to Jalukie.
