Nagaland police clamps prohibitory order in Diezephe, Tsithrongse villages over clash

DIMAPUR — An altercation broke out between Diezephe and Tsithrongse villages around 10 am on Saturday, after an old land dispute resurfaced, leading to damage of property.

A police source told this newspaper that it is an old land dispute and that they were informed about the altercation around 10.30 am.

“There was no physical confrontation between the two parties but both the parties took to destroying the other’s property on lands claimed by both,” said the source.

‘The two villages are separated by the PWD Road but there are disputed areas on one side. It is a long pending village border dispute. Only the Revenue department will have an idea about the demarcation, if there are records,’ the source maintained.

No arrest was made and no casualty reported.

The situation is said to be under control and the road crossing the area is open for commuters.

Section 144 of Cr.PC in force

The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, on Saturday imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 of the Cr.PC in Diezephe and Tsithrongse under Chümoukedima district over breach of law and order as well as damage of public and private properties due to a land dispute between the two villages.

It said the move was necessary to restore peace and prevent further breach of law and order.

The prohibitory order restricts “assembly of not more than 5 (five) persons, carrying lethal weapons and firearms including lathis, dagger/ machete, sticks, spears, catapults or any other dangerous articles within Diezephe village and Tsithrongse village, also along the road stretch from Singrijan village Jn. towards Urra village”.

The order, which was passed ex-parte due to security exigency, will come into force from 6 pm on February 10 and would remain in force until further order, it stated.

In another order, the police commissioner directed all arms licence holders of the two villages to deposit their licensed arms to the nearest police station with immediate effect, adding that failing to do so would “invite prosecution of the licence holder under the Arms Act, 1959 and may lead to cancellation of Arms Licence”.

DC convenes meeting

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of Chümoukedima has convened 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 ENPU Dimapur, to discuss the land dispute.

The meeting will be held on February 12 at 2 pm in the Conference Hall of Chümoukedima Deputy Commissioner’s Office.