Tikhir Tribal Council led by RT Kius clarifies its leadership status and raises concerns over the FNTA selection process involving the Tikhir community.
DIMAPUR — The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC), led by RT Kius, has issued a rejoinder to a press statement issued on October 2 by the dissolved TTC team led by P Timong and Timong Y, clarifying the council’s position on its leadership and the ongoing Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) process.
In the rejoinder on Saturday, the TTC stated that the team led by P Timong was dissolved on July 29, 2026, following concerns regarding its functioning, alleged non-compliance with applicable directives and issues concerning the interests of the Tikhir community.
The present TTC leadership maintained that any statement or representation made by the dissolved team in the name of the TTC after July 29 should not be considered an official statement of the council.
It also rejected as “totally false” the claim that the dissolved TTC’s legitimacy was further affirmed following a September 1 meeting, as reported in a section of the local media on October 3.
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According to the TTC, the Deputy Commissioner of Kiphire had, on August 29, appealed to the Tikhir frontal organisations — Tikhir Students’ Union (TSU), Tikhir Women Association (TWA), Tikhir Gazetted Officers’ Association (TGOA), Tikhir Goan Buras Association (TGBA) and Tikhir Baptist Biti Atükhienti (TBBA) — to take concerted initiatives to facilitate an amicable resolution of issues within the tribe with the participation of all stakeholders.
The TTC alleged that copies of the DC’s communication served to the frontal organisations were concealed by the dissolved TTC and TSU teams, and that the dissolved TTC subsequently convened a meeting on September 1, contrary to the directive that such an initiative should be undertaken by the frontal organisations.
On the FNTA selection process, the TTC said the eligibility criteria framed by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) and eight tribal presidents on March 4 at Khatkhati, Assam, formed the basis for selecting the Tikhir Interim Council Member to the FNTA.
The TTC claimed that failure to properly verify the candidate against the prescribed criteria resulted in confusion, misunderstanding and discord within the Tikhir community.
The TTC called upon the concerned frontal organisations that recommended the disputed candidature to consider withdrawing their signatures, stating that this would uphold transparency, fairness and the eligibility framework prescribed by the ENPO.
It said such corrective action would help prevent further misunderstanding and division and contribute to restoring peace and normalcy within the community.
Referring to the ENPO Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting held on August 11 at Chen village, Chümoukedima, the TTC also recalled the resolution that individuals, groups or entities obstructing, misleading or creating confusion in the FNTA process would be held accountable.
The TTC alleged that the dissolved team led by P Timong and Timong Y of TSU had, through subsequent statements and actions, created further confusion regarding the FNTA process.
It said continued public statements without proper verification and documentary evidence had aggravated the situation and contributed to confusion within the Tikhir community.
The present Tikhir Tribal Council leadership urged the ENPO and other concerned authorities not to be misled by what it described as parallel claims or representations made by the dissolved team.