Man decries ‘defamation’ over land dispute issue

Dimapur, April 2 (EMN): The chairman of a Sumi Gaon Bura organisation in Dimapur has clarified matter associated with a reported land dispute, following an ultimatum issued to him by a youth organisation.

Hokuto Zhimomi, chairman of the Sumi Gaon Bura organisation in Dimapur, has expressed displeasure at the ultimatum reportedly served by Model Village Yorübami Youth Association (MVYYA) through a local daily to appear before the office of MVYYA on April 4, by 12 noon.

Hokuto Zhimomi, who was also an intending BJP candidate to the Dimapur Municipal Council Elections recently, has termed the ‘mode of notice’ by the youth group ‘character assassination’.

Addressing media persons at his private residence in Dimapur on Sunday, Zhimomi recounted an incident on March 3, 2017, over land supposedly belonging to one VK Sema. He said that on the fateful day, he was called by the GB of Supply Colony to act as a mediator over VK Sema’s land which was reportedly being ‘trespassed’ by a person, one Pothita, along with 15 people.

When Pothita was asked to produce the land deed, he had a ‘duplicate land patta’ from 2015 in the name of one late Vamuzo and had no allotment orders in his possession, Zhimomi said. Zhimomi therefore questioned the possession of ‘duplicate 2015 land patta’ in the name of late Vamuzo.

A scuffle was said to have taken place between Zhimomi and Pothita when the latter was confronted over the ‘duplicate land deed’, said Zhimomi.

In this connection, an FIR was lodged against Zhimomi with the East Police Station, and that the incident was described as ‘assault by unidentified persons,’ Zhimomi said. Further, Zhimomi said his ‘public address photos’ were used by the association on social networking sites which he termed ‘character assassination’.

Labelling the allegation by the association as ‘baseless’, Zhimomi explained that he had no personal hostility with the Model Village Yorübami or had intentions to disrespect the former Chief Minister Vamuzo; he was acting only as a mediator over the land belonging to VK Sema, who is said to be a nonagenarian.

“It is disheartening to say that serving summons to individuals and other tribes to attend in person to other native villages without reason and ground realities is lawless and beyond degree of ill treatment ever practised from any society under Naga customary law,” Zhimomi lamented.

He maintained that the matter and summons, served to him, must also be ‘endorsed’ to respective Sumi council in Dimapur for amicable settlement as situation demands instead of opting for confrontation.

‘The episode was manipulated by the erring perpetrators and spreading my name on propaganda through electronic media to tarnish my image and reputation amounting to character assassination,’ he said. Also, he said that his photograph, with the symbol of the party BJP, was circulated in the media ‘which amounts to be defamatory.’

Both the parties have lodged a complaint with the West Police Station and the East Police Station respectively.