Nagaland: SAPO condemns Feb 13 incident

Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) has expressed strong condemnation over the February 13 incident at Maova village, alleging that the president of Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) and Chakhroma citizens were subjected to aggression by Maova village authority and its residents.
In a press release, SAPO president Er. Tepul Hopovi and general secretary Tepungosa Sale termed the incident as an affront to its cultural ethos and unequivocally condemned what it described as an act that besmirched the noble values of society.
SAPO stated that such actions, which it alleged represented an alien culture, would not be tolerated as they imperilled the fabric of society.
SAPO maintained that Chakhroma citizens had coexisted peacefully with villages under its jurisdiction since time immemorial and said there were no legitimate grounds for insecurity. It further stated that developmental activities undertaken in these areas through legal ownership or purchase had contributed to the growth of Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Kohima districts.
It also extended full support to the statement issued by Angami Public Organization and commended its commitment to peaceful coexistence. It urged all communities to respect the rightful landowners and resolve disputes through mutual respect, understanding and harmony instead of violence.
SAPO further alleged that residents of Maova village had threatened and physically assaulted the CPO president and resorted to stone-pelting at the district administration and Chakhroma citizens, which it termed as direct confrontation with government agencies and public organisations.
The organisation advocated constructive dialogue and stated that if any village felt insecure due to developmental activities, the matter should be addressed peacefully and lawfully.
SAPO also expressed readiness to extend cooperation to ensure peace and harmony within its jurisdiction and prayed that the incident would not recur, while appealing for concord and fraternal relations among all communities.