Nagaland: ZVC rejects LVC claims on land dispute

The Zutovi Village Council (ZVC) has rejected as “misleading, lopsided, and mischievous” the Lamhai Village Council (LVC)’s statement in connection with the construction of National Highway 329A along the Pimla Junction/Mhaikam village stretch.
In a rejoinder, Zutovi village head GB Victo Achumi and ZVC chairman Inato Achumi expressed displeasure over what it called LVC’s “unscrupulous attempt” to shift blame for the un-demarcated boundary between Peren and Chümoukedima districts.
ZVC said it was “highly distressed” by the sweeping statements of the LVC, which it accused of “manufacturing false narrative and engaging in unsustainable and mischievous game of blame” causing threat to crucial development activities.
Zutovi village council said it was issuing the clarification in the spirit of “live and let live” and to remove any guilt being cast on neighbouring village/villages or Aqahuto Area in general by LVC.
Citing the government’s July 2019 standing order to evict illegal encroachers from bona fide lands in Aqahuto area under Chümoukedima district, the ZVC said that non-implementation of the order has caused hardship and loss of lives. Despite sincere efforts by people of Zutovi village and Aqahuto area in general, ZVC said LVC remained adamant in prolonging disputes, anger, misconceptions, and falsehoods to pressure the government.
ZVC accused the LVC of “solely invested” in gaining attention and creating continuous unrest with its neighbours for “gaining mileage and satisfying a selfish agenda.”