Naginimora landowner moves HC over Assam Rifles’ alleged 26-acre occupation

DIMAPUR — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has sought responses from the Centre, Assam Rifles and Nagaland authorities over a Naginimora landowner’s claim that 26.42 acres of his land have remained under Assam Rifles’ occupation since 1960 without lawful acquisition or payment of rent.

The court passed the order on Tuesday in a petition filed by Chingdick Konyak, a resident of Naginimora town in Mon district, seeking directions to the authorities to initiate lawful acquisition of the land and pay compensation based on its current market value.

Justice Robin Phukan, after hearing the parties, observed that the submissions made on behalf of the petitioner required further consideration and issued notice to the respondents. The matter has been listed after four weeks.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, Assam Rifles occupied a total of 76.42 acres of land at Naginimora in 1960 and established a battalion key location without following due process of law.

The counsel submitted that an agreement was subsequently executed between the parties in 1978 for initiating acquisition proceedings in respect of 50 acres of the land. The remaining 26.42 acres, however, allegedly continued to remain under Assam Rifles’ occupation without acquisition, the petitioner claimed.

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The petitioner further alleged that when he objected to the non-acquisition of the remaining land, the authorities stated that it would be acquired subsequently. However, according to the petition, the remaining 26.42 acres have continued to be occupied without lawful acquisition and no rent has been paid to the petitioner.