Nagaland DNSU demands action on illegal land deals

The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has announced plans to file a formal complaint regarding recent cases of land procurement by non-indigenous individuals allegedly lacking valid documents.
Informing this at a press conference here Tuesday, DNSU General Secretary Michael Kath stated that the union has been actively pursuing the much-publicised Nirmal Jain land case since May, by submitting all necessary documents and evidence to the relevant departments. He said despite a fact-finding report by the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur being forwarded to the Commissioner of Nagaland, the DNSU has received no official response.
Expressing disappointment over the government’s silence, Kath emphasized the need for prompt action to uphold fairness and transparency, asserting that their aim is justice, not division. DNSU Assistant General Secretary Azo Wetsah underscored the intrinsic connection between Nagaland’s indigenous identity and ancestral lands, reiterating the Chief Minister’s statement that “indigenous identity is non-transferable”. He criticized the continued illegal land ownership by non-indigenous persons, noting resistance from landowners allegedly linked to influential figures during a verification visit.
DNSU President Hinoto P. Aomi highlighted the unresolved Midland issue, revealing that three non-Nagas allegedly acquired land without valid indigenous certificates. Aomi questioned the issuance of land pattas in these cases, labeling it forgery and misuse of documents. While affirming DNSU’s intention to protect indigenous rights and promote accountability, he criticized the singling out of DNSU for actions that other groups have taken unchallenged. The union has handed over keys of sealed buildings to the police and warned of organizing a public rally should the government continue to ignore the matter.