Nagaland; Maova VC appeals against communalisation of Feb 13 violence

In the wake of the February 13 violence at Maova village, Maova Village Council (VC) chairman Sutminlal Vaiphei on Saturday addressed a press conference, placing on record the village’s version of events and clarifying what transpired during the clash.
He stated that the press conference was not convened to counter any individual or organisation, but to present “what actually happened on the ground” and prevent misinformation and communal interpretations.
Recounting the sequence of events, Vaiphei claimed that the village council was neither officially informed nor served prior notice regarding the visit of the Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO). He said they came to know through informal sources that more than 1,000 people were heading towards the village. “Immediately, we informed the district administration and the police,” he said.
According to Vaiphei, around 20-30 Kuki individuals initially gathered along the roadside, while a meeting was being held at the GBs’ residence involving the GB, Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) and Dobashi. He said the EAC had assured that the matter would be discussed peacefully.
However, he alleged that while discussions were underway, a scuffle suddenly broke out along the roadside. Village leaders and district officials rushed to the spot in an attempt to control the situation. During the clash, the EAC and police personnel present were also injured.
Describing the incident as “most unfortunate”, Vaiphei said the village did not wish to blame any party and expressed hope for the speedy recovery of all injured.
He refuted allegations that Kukis had assaulted the police and the EAC, asserting that the village council itself had informed the administration and police. “The claim that Kukis attacked them is wrong. In fact, Kukis are the ones who need protection,” he said.
Vaiphei further claimed that the situation deteriorated when the number of people swelled into the thousands, adding that village youths and women were injured.
“We were completely outnumbered and could only stand still and witness the destruction,” he said.
He also mentioned that a local pastor who attempted to intervene and stop the violence sustained injuries in the process.
According to him, when shops were set ablaze, he alerted those present to move away as LPG cylinders were stored inside.
Appealing to Nagas not to communalise the issue, Vaiphei emphasised that the matter was strictly a village-related dispute. “This has nothing to do with communal or ethnic lines. With the intervention of the administration, we hope to resolve the issue and restore peace,” he said.
Responding to allegations that the village authorities did not allow development activities, Vaiphei stated that Maova village, established in 1933, required proper consultation with the GBs and village council for any development. “All development activities require a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the village council,” he said, while adding that compliance norms had been relaxed over time.
On the land ownership issue that reportedly triggered the dispute, he said the land belonged to an individual from the Kuki community who is still alive. He added that negotiations were held between the parties concerned and, when no positive outcome emerged, the matter was informed to CPO.
On CPO’s allegation that the village council did not respond to its December 2, 2025 letter, Vaiphei claimed that the council replied on December 22, 2025 and copies were also submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. He further stated that village representatives visited the residence of the CPO president to submit documents and, in his absence, handed them over to the chowkidars.
Addressing allegations that the village was “prepared” for violence, Vaiphei reiterated that they had no prior official information about CPO’s visit and only received information around 8.30 a.m. He maintained that youths were instructed not to indulge in violence but to remain prepared for self-defence, adding that women were placed in front to prevent escalation. The chairman also dismissed claims linking the incident to the ongoing situation in Manipur.
On allegations regarding the presence of ammunition or explosive materials, Vaiphei welcomed a thorough police and forensic investigation to establish the facts.
When asked about FIRs and compensation for damages, he said no response had been received so far. Regarding the way forward, he said future decisions would be taken collectively in consultation with villagers and the village council.
Vaiphei reiterated his appeal to all parties not to communalise the issue and to allow it to be resolved at the village level, while affirming the village council’s commitment to peace, dialogue and cooperation with the administration to restore normalcy at the earliest.