Dimapur, May 5 (EMN): Zeliang Students’ Union (ZLSU) has condemned the assaulted meted to its president and his colleagues by the members of Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) in Molvom village on May 3.
ZLSU claimed that its president and his colleagues were manhandled by around 100 people including non-Nagas resulting in serious injuries when the former came to consult with good intention about the economic blockade imposed by NTTU on the people of Peren district, an update from ZLSU media cell stated.
While condemning the incident, ZLSU asked the concerned administration and state government to intervene before the situation escalates and goes out of control. It stated the ‘irrational’ economic blockade imposed by NTTU on Peren district was nothing but to serve their selfish interest, exploit forests and natural vegetation. The union affirmed that it would not let such deleterious and illegal activities continue in the district any further.
Meanwhile, the Nkio Students’ Union (NSU) has directed all the timber operators within its jurisdiction to stop further extraction of timber and exploitation of natural vegetation and forest cover.
It mentioned that the Forest department has approved a working scheme for timber operation with an extension only to the three village councils under Peren district namely New Ngaulong (20-21 to 24-25), Lalong village (2020-21 to 22-23), and Paikolom (2017, 2018, 2021-2022) and there was no existing working scheme under Nkio jurisdiction.
The union stated that every illegitimate extraction of timber within Nkio jurisdiction without legal extension order of working scheme issued by the government of Nagaland would be strictly prohibited from now. The union added that it would undertake inspection of every site of operations and act as per the Forest Protection Act and resort to punitive actions against the defaulters.