Nagaland’s Forest Department and CCYO agree to settle the Vezhoto Hesuh case outside court as a police inquiry continues
DIMAPUR — Nagaland Forest department and the Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) have reached an agreement to settle their dispute over the case against Vezhoto Hesuh amicably outside court.
The agreement was reached at a meeting held at Japfu Hotel in Kohima at 2 pm on Wednesday, according to a joint declaration signed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Vedpal Singh and CCYO president Dode Nakro.
The dispute centred on three demands raised by CCYO: withdrawal of the case against Hesuh, return of a Great Barbet seized from Porba village, and an independent inquiry into an alleged demand for INR 1 lakh, including identification of the officials involved.
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The bird was jointly released into the Porba community forest on September 30, the declaration stated.
On the case against Hesuh, the department stated that it had held a meeting with CCYO on October 1 to explore an amicable resolution but could not settle the matter without Hesuh’s cooperation and the intervention of the court.
The police have initiated an inquiry into the alleged demand for money, but its findings are awaited, according to the declaration.
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The declaration stated that Hesuh had expressed ignorance of the relevant laws and said he had acted on a rescue mission. He also conveyed his willingness to settle the matter outside court.
The department and the youth organisation credited Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s intervention, along with the efforts of the state’s environment and forest minister, MLA and Advisor Kuzholuzo Nienu, village guards and Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema, for facilitating the agreement.