Aqahuto Tokukujo Kukami Kuqhakulu (ATKK) and the people of Aqahuto Area have expressed shock and pain over the loss of the lives of three persons on March 22.
In a press note, ATKK president Kakiho Achumi and general secretary Vikishe Swu said their statement was issued as there has been various social media posts overflowing with hateful comments against the people of Aqahuto Area, adding, “the ugly face of tribalism again knocks at our door” as Sumis in general and Sumis residing in Aqahuto area have become “targets of hatemongers”.
ATKK said it reiterated, with full confidence in factual circumstances and not on whimsical/sentimental beliefs, that villages in Aqahuto area were “not established on lands belonging to other villages or communities”.
While stating that any person/community who claims land within the territories of Aqahuto area was welcome to establish his/her claim, ATKK however said whether it was the people of Aqahuto area or people from elsewhere, resorting to illegal means is no justification.
ATKK said it was conscious that others would accuse people of Aqahuto of illegally occupying lands. It however claimed that the records maintained by the government will show that none of the villages in the Aqahuto area have been established on lands belonging to other villages/communities.
ATKK further said that claim by Lamhai village, that it was the owner of all lands till Chumukedima, was “legally untenable”.
ATKK claimed that during the 2019 incident, people claiming to be from Lamhai village had sought to establish a new village named Lamhai Namdi.
It said that contrary to popular perception, Lamhai Namdi was not the old Lamhai village but a new village sought to be established by people claiming to be from Lamhai village. ATKK said the new village was attempted to be established on land belonging to Kiyevi Village and that upon investigation, the authorities directed the “so called Lamhai Namdi village” to be evicted.
ATKK also said that on their inquiry, it was again found , that people claiming to be from Lamhai village were trying to establish the same Lamhai Namdi Village on the lands of Kiyevi Village.
In the process, it alleged that Lamhai Namdi people caused huge destruction of tree plantations, including valuable teak trees above 30/40 years of age besides intruding into farmlands with the help of armed persons and also forcefully encroached and constructed temporary shelters.
ATKK also alleged that the armed persons patrolled the encroached areas and threatened Kiyevi villagers with dire consequences while also resorting to firing live rounds at night at the direction of Kiyevi village.
It said these “acts of coercion, threats, intimidations and forceful encroachment of village lands sparked the violence, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths of three persons on 22.03.2021.”
ATKK asserted that it does not justify the killing of any persons but however it cannot remain silent spectators to the fact that the government was allegedly protecting encroachers into Kiyevi village lands by permitting the three persons, killed on March 22 , to be buried on Kiyevi village land under the guard of IRB presently stationed in the area. According to ATKK this was abominable in Naga customs and practices. While stating that it does not want to point fingers at any individual and/or community, it however said that facts must be projected and criticism and/or support, if any, must be informed.
ATKK also said as citizens governed by the Rule of Law, its people were of the opinion that the following measures need to be taken: that the government’s 2019 order to maintain status quo must be respected and enforced and to evict those persons who propose to establish the new village to be evicted.
ATTK also asserted that Sumi villages have not encroached on lands of Lamhai village, which is situated in the interiors of Peren district beyond Jalukie town and far removed from Kiyevi village and the Aqahuto Area.
It termed various social media reports that lands of Lamhai were being encroached as “pernicious.” ATKK claimed that the place of occurrence in the recent incident was on the lands of Kiyevi village, where the new village Lamhai Namdi was sought to be established.
ATTK said despite complaints, it alleged that both Peren and Dimapur district administration did not restrain encroachers from encroaching into Kiyevi village land.
ATKK also said the issue between Kiyevi villagers and persons claiming to be Lamhai Namdi villagers was “not tribal issue” . It also termed as “most unfortunate” that a tribal twist has been introduced, with all manner of bodies, organizations and individuals, vociferously contributing inflammatory opinions.
In the light of these, ATKK urged the leaders of both the communities to ensure that the matter does not get out of hand and that each community must respect the rights of the other and that respect must also be founded on democratic principles and not on wishful/fanciful sentiments. ATKK said this was the only way forward for the Naga community while maintaining that its statement was issued without malice and with the hope and trust that the views expressed will be appreciated in their proper perspective.