KOHIMA: The Naga United Village, which has been in the eye of a controversy for allegedly being established illegally inside the Intangki National Park, has informed its decision to vacate occupation of the forest land.
A press note issued by village Chairman and Secretary Sazo Zumvu and C Pili Pochury informed that the Naga United Village Council had held a meeting on December 14 whereby the decision was taken.
However, it has cautioned that if the state government fails to keep its word and evict all encroachers, including Beisumpuikam village, within October 31, 2012, the Naga United villagers would return to re-establish the village.
‘The meeting after thorough deliberation resolved to vacate the village as desired by the state government even at the cost of human lives and crores of rupees in terms of investment,’ the release said.
The meeting was also reported to have rejected Gauhati High Court judgment which stated that Beisumpuikam village was the original landowner of Intangki Forest.
The meeting rejected this judgment as ‘baseless and a lie’, the release said.
Maintaining that there was a long pending court case over land issue between Beisumpuikam village and Forest Department, the Naga United Village said Beisumpuikam village was the first encroachers of Intangki Reserve Forest, the note said. (UNI)