Zeliangrong CSOs in Peren district allege illegal sale of 200 acres of ancestral land to the Indian Air Force
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DIMAPUR — Civil society organisations representing the Zeliangrong community in Peren district have alleged that around 200 acres of ancestral land were illegally sold to the Indian Air Force for the establishment of an operational base, without the knowledge or consent of the affected landowners.
In a press statement issued by the Lamhai Village Co-ordination Committee on behalf of Zeliangrong CSOs of Peren district, the organisations claimed that the land transaction was carried out “in alleged collusion with certain individuals and authorities of Kiyevi village,” and that the land falls under the jurisdiction of Lamhai village, Jalukie police station area.
The CSOs said the alleged transaction involved approximately 200 acres of ancestral land and described it as a violation of customary land ownership, stating that “there is not a single inch of land in our district without legitimate ownership.”
“Any claim to the contrary is false, malicious, and unsustainable,” the organisations asserted, terming it a “grave betrayal of the Zeliangrong people of Peren district and an affront to our collective ancestral rights, identity, and dignity.”
The organisations also alleged that neighbouring ancestral villages, including Heningkunglwa and Mhainamtsi, which they said would be directly affected by the proposed air force base, were deliberately “not consulted, not informed, and not taken into consideration.”
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Expressing concern over the scale of the alleged transaction, the CSOs said a land deal involving hundreds of acres and significant financial value could not be executed without broader community involvement. They said such actions undermine customary law and the traditional land tenure system.
The Zeliangrong CSOs demanded that the Government of Nagaland immediately halt all processes related to the proposed establishment until the matter is resolved transparently. They also called for a high-level, time-bound investigation into the roles of individuals, village authorities, departments and officials, adding that none of the people involved would be “shielded by anonymity.”
The CSOs further demanded that any memorandums of understanding, agreements or documents executed without community mandate be declared null and void.
Reiterating that ancestral land is not a commodity for sale, the CSOs said they would pursue democratic, legal and customary measures to protect their land rights.