Kohima, July 15: The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) will stage a peaceful rally on July 17 after the expiry of a 20-day ultimatum served by the Chakhroma Youth Organisation (CYO) to the Nagaland government over the long-running Moava village dispute.
The rally will begin at 10 am with a public programme at the Peren–NU Medziphema Campus road junction in Jharnapani, New Medziphema, before participants march to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Medziphema, to submit a memorandum.
The CPO has appealed to tribal bodies and the public to participate in the rally, accusing the state government of failing to act on its demands concerning the land ownership and administrative status of Moava village in Chümoukedima district.
The dispute centres on competing claims over the village and surrounding land. The CYO maintains that while the Kuki community has been residing in Moava, it does not possess traditional ownership rights over the land and was historically allowed to stay as tenants under Angami customary practices. It also alleged that the village has refused to pay traditional land tax despite administrative orders issued by the ADC, Peren in 1981 and the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur in 2010.
The organisation further claimed that the issue escalated following an incident on February 13 this year, and argued that the refusal to comply with customary obligations violates protections under Article 371A of the Constitution and the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act, 1978.
In its ultimatum to the Chief Secretary, the CYO sought de-recognition of Moava village, removal of its Head Gaon Bura, suspension of government schemes and financial assistance, a halt to the issuance of official documents by the village authorities, and action against three individuals allegedly connected to the dispute.
The organisation had warned that failure to act within 20 days could trigger public protests and “drastic steps”.
The planned rally is expected to put fresh pressure on the state government to intervene in one of the most contentious customary land disputes in the Medziphema area.
Also read: Meghalaya deputy CM to inspect New Shillong projects on July 30 amid delay concerns
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