Zutovi Village Council issues rejoinder to Lamhai Village Council regarding NH 329A

DIMAPUR — The Zutovi Village Council has issued a rejoinder regarding press statements issued by the Lamhai Village Council in connection with the construction of National Highway 329A along the Pimla Junction/Mhaikam village stretch.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Zutovi Village Council stated it was constrained to issue the rejoinder to clarify "misleading and lopsided press statements".

The council expressed that it was "irked by the unscrupulous attempt" by the Lamhai Village Council to shift the blame for the undemarcated boundary between the Peren and Chümoukedima districts.

The statement claimed that the Lamhai Village Council's statements were "causing threat to crucial development activities by manufacturing false narrative and engaging in unsustainable and mischievous game of blame."

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The Zutovi Village Council stated that the failure to implement the government standing order dated July 7, 2019, to evict illegal encroachers from bona fide village lands of the Aqahuto area under Chümoukedima district has caused hardships and loss of lives.

It alleged that despite efforts by the people of Zutovi village and the Aqahuto area, the Lamhai Village Council remained adamant in "prolonging unsolicited dispute, anger, misconceptions and falsehoods to sustain pressure over the Government of the day."

“The ZVC through this communique, further expresses that human lives, co-existence and development is more precious than land compensation and blame games; however, it is evident from their statement that the Lamhai Village Council is solely invested in gaining attention and creating continuous unrest with its neighbours for gaining mileage and satisfying a selfish agenda,” the statement read.