Yannu village has refuted the allegation of land encroachment levelled against it by Yansa village, while reiterating its claim of its plantations and properties having been destroyed by armed men on August 18.
Reacting to the allegations of Yansa village, Yannu village chief angh N Awang Jongwang in a rejoinder said that Yannu and Yansa had cordial relationship, extending help to each other as and when required. However, Yannu had faced a major health crisis – it was hit by a major epidemic that affected the whole village in late 1940s. People left the village for a brief period, only to come back to their own land led by their angh in early 1950.
He claimed that Yansa extended help to Yannu only after three years when people had already come back and were dealing with the crisis on their own. Nevertheless, he clarified that the help was readily accepted in good faith.
However, Jongwang alleged that it soon came to light that Yansa extended help as part of a conspiracy to subjugate Yannu, which he said was totally uncalled for without any regard to past cordial relation and tradition.
He said a host of other villages, including Chatting, Zangkham, etc. genuinely helped Yannu during the crisis and never claimed authority over Yannu.
Mentioning that Yannu historically remained one of the prominent villages with “Pongven status”, which can be testified by other prominent villages of Konyak Jatnu, the chief angh said to think that Yannu was governed by Yansa at any point of time was a sheer illusion.
He also refuted the allegation that Yannu’s history began in 1957, terming it as total disregard of historical truths.
“Claiming authority by Yansa over Yannu is nothing short of self-mockery. The meaning of ‘NU’ and ‘SA’ speaks for themselves and other villages of Konyak are aware of it,” the rejoinder stated.
Further, claiming that Thamnu and Konhoa areas had been historically cultivated by Yannu both before and after the major health crisis faced by the village, Jongwang asserted that there was no question of encroachment. He said there was no history of any other village cultivating the area, except Yannu village.
In fact, he pointed out that several plots of land were actually purchased by individuals of Longting village from Yannu along the fringes of Thamnu. Similarly, he claimed that several plots of eastern fringes of Konhoa area were purchased from Yannu by Loakho village and the land purchase agreements proved who the original owners of Thamnu and Konhoa were. In addition, he said the agri-link roads in Thamnu and Konhoa were constructed by the government over recognised Yannu land.
Reiterating the allegation that crops and tea plantation were destroyed and huts burned down on August 18, Jongwang alleged that nearly a thousand people, including those remaining at standby, came armed with guns and machetes.
Mentioning that no sane person would be able to justify such cowardice act, he alleged that the group had overshot their bounds by saying they had come to evict people and thereby took law into their own hands.
Despite the restraining orders from district administration to both the parties on retaining status quo and maintaining peace in the area, he accused the group of indulging in condemnable conduct to settle the matter and called for initiating an inquiry.
Jongwang clarified that setting up of police outpost at Yannu was the administration’s prerogative and was not done at the behest of Yannu as alleged. As everyone knew that hooligans and unruly youth in Tizit came commonly from a few villages to Yannu neighbourhood, he said a police outpost was set up at the village by law enforcing authority apprehending breakdown of law and order.
Being one of the pioneers in terms of bringing education and embracing Christianity in Tizit, the chief angh claimed Yannu had been advocating peace and development for Tizit area in general. But, he accused Yansa of serving summon letters to Yannu by wrongly incriminating the former in recent times.
However, believing in mutual trust and respect, he claimed that Yannu elders made sincere efforts to amicably resolve the issue and proceeded for dialogue.
“However, our respected Smt Lt Zennon, SDEO of Yansa, passed away on the proposed date of meeting and therefore the meeting was postponed in her honour,” he added.
In the second instance of proposed meeting, he said the personnel assistant (PA) to deputy commissioner (DC) of Mon district had stated that spot verification team to Mankhoa was arranged, but it coincided with the proposed meeting and the inability to attend the meeting was intimated to Yansa Wanghoa. Thereafter, Covid situation followed by lockdown and other health protocols only delayed the meeting.
However, Jongwang assured that Yannu still believed in sitting across the table and resolving the issue peacefully.
“We hope that wisdom will prevail over personal ego and YEN-system in our area for lasting solution,” he added.