Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) rejects TPO verdict on land dispute

The Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) has rejected the December 19, 2022, verdict of the Tenyimi Public Organisation (TPO) relating to ‘Meiko Rezai’ (Dzukou Valley) land dispute.

ZB (AMN) in a press statement termed the TPO verdict as “a compromise verdict completely lacking traditional values and customary practices in regard to land boundary handed down and honoured by our ancestor for ages.”

It stated that ZB (AMN), as an apex organisation of the Zeliangrong community across the three states, had, time and again, reiterated its position as stakeholder and traditional land owner in the run-up of Meiko Rezai (Dzukou Valley) land dispute.

The Baudi reminded that it had earlier given in written twice (March 22, 2021, and March 28, 2022), vividly stating that if the traditional land owner Yangkhullen, a Zeliangrong village, is excluded as a stakeholder in the settlement, it would not be a party in the settlement of the case.

It iterated that it still upholds its position “because we cannot and would not part an inch of our God-given land as a result of this compromise verdict.”

ZB (AMN) also affirmed that the verdict holds no wisdom as it excluded the “original land owner” in the settlement on a flimsy ground of late submission of position paper by Yangkhullen village.

“Ownership of land can never be discarded or disowned on the question of late or early claim. ZB considered the verdict as a dark page and ill-gotten spot in the history of Tenyimi organisation,” it added.