Kohima district administration carries out eviction drive

Our Correspondent

Kohima, July 16 (EMN): The Kohima district administration on Saturday demolished four temporary structures and sealed a house, which is under construction, citing “illegal occupation” of government-owned property despite prior eviction notice to the landowners.

The alleged encroachers were said to have occupied the land belonging to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Kohima.

The district administration team led by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Sardar, Chonpenthung Ezung, carried out the eviction drive at the Assembly Secretariat staff quarter area. He was accompanied by other officers, dobashis, and Kohima police.

Ezung later told journalists that the eviction drive was carried out against “illegal occupation” of the public property by encroachers, adding the area belonged to Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

“We have received a report from the revenue officer’s office, and accordingly, Kohima deputy commissioner detailed us to evict the illegal occupants and we have done so,” he said.

A total of four temporary structures (houses) were dismantled and a half constructed building was sealed. The encroachers have been evicted and “further course of action will be taken”, the officer informed.

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He further said that eviction notice had been issued to the land owners earlier, so, “it is the onus of the land owners to inform them (tenants/occupants)”.

An occupant, who did not wish to be named, said that she was “not aware” of the eviction notice as the landowner did not inform her.

“The landowner from whom we bought the land did not inform us about eviction. We were not aware of the government order. Suddenly, they (administration) came and dismantled our houses and now where will we go. This is wrong on their part,” she said.

She said that she overheard others saying that the administration team was coming to dismantle her house but ‘was not informed properly’.

The alleged “encroached” land measuring 25×30 was sold to her family for INR 2.5-3 lakh and spent around INR 1 lakh to build the house.

“We were not aware that the land was already acquired/owned by the government,” she said.

They had been staying in the house, now demolished, for the last five months and were running a shop.

Another person, who claimed to be the landowner, said that she learnt about the eviction notice late. By then, they (her family) had already started constructing their house (permanent structure), since mid 2021, and so they went ahead with the construction despite notification being served.

The family of eight is planning to stay at a cousin’s place since their house had been sealed by the authority.

She further said it was the second time the government authorities had taken action against them for building house on a government-owned land.