26 injured as land dispute turns violent in Nagaland’s Chumoukedima district

At least 26 people were injured after a long-running land dispute escalated into violence at Moava village in Medziphema sub-division of Nagaland’s Chumoukedima district on the morning of February 13, police said.

 

Officials confirmed that the clash broke out when members of the Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) visited the village to discuss allegations of encroachment on private land. Tensions had been building for years over claims that legitimate landowners were being prevented from carrying out construction and agricultural activities, while illegal structures were allegedly being raised on some plots.

 

A police spokesperson said, “The situation is presently under control. Security forces have been deployed, and normal traffic movement has been restored. The public is advised to maintain peace and not to take the law into their own hands.”

 

According to the CPO, it had served a formal notice to the village headman on December 2, setting a December 25 deadline for the removal of alleged illegal constructions. The organisation claimed the notice was ignored and construction continued.

 

CPO president Zhato Kimho alleged that when leaders went to Moava to hold discussions with the village headman and chairman, they were stopped by a group of 70 to 80 people. The confrontation escalated into stone-pelting, leaving the Extra Assistant Commissioner of Medziphema, a police constable and around 24 youths injured.

 

Police said that in retaliation, several hundred youths entered the village, dispersed the crowd and allegedly set fire to a few houses said to have been built illegally on private land. A number of vehicles were also damaged during the violence.

 

“We went to Moava not to create any problems, but the unfortunate incident happened because of the village headman and chairman who instigated the villagers,” Kimho alleged. The CPO maintained that the clash did not involve entire communities but “certain individuals from Moava village”.

 

Moava Gaon Burah Seiboi Changsan offered a different account, stating that he had alerted the administration after receiving information about outsiders approaching the village. Officials and police personnel reached the spot, but were outnumbered and unable to prevent the situation from worsening, he said.

 

Changsan alleged that the mob set ablaze public and private properties, including a community hall, guest house, youth office and a row of shops. Several houses were damaged, along with five four-wheelers and five two-wheelers.

 

Security forces remain deployed in the area as authorities monitor the situation and assess the damage. (With inputs from PTI)