DIMAPUR, APRIL 4 (MExN): The Lururi Development Council (LDC) has issued a rejoinder refuting accusations made by the Mimi Citizens Joint Committee (MCJC), calling the group’s recent press statement “blatant lies” and accusing it of repeatedly violating government orders in an ongoing land dispute.
The LDC, a joint body representing Sütsü and Laruri villages, said it was “utterly surprised” by the April 4 statement from MCJC, which it claimed falsely accused the LDC of violating restraining orders issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) of Pungro and Meluri.
“It is not Sütsii and Laruri who violated the restraining orders, but the MCJC has been violating the orders on several occasions,” the council said in the statement.
According to the LDC, MCJC breached official directives by destroying a hanging bridge across the Tizu River, cultivating disputed land, and removing a boundary stone erected under a judgment order jointly issued by the ADCs of Pungro and Meluri on March 31, 2022.
The council said that it has “honoured and abided” by all government orders throughout the dispute. It further clarified that the area where villagers from Sütsü and Laruri were recently camped is “undisputed and within the jurisdiction of the LDC.”
The LDC cited a physical verification by the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Phokhungri on June 2, 2022, and a follow-up order dated June 4 that confirmed the agri-link road construction to the Xejilaun project site lies beyond the Jizüti River and outside the area of conflict between Mimi and Laruri.
“No restraining order was issued for this area by any administrative officer,” the statement read. “Therefore, it is not illegal for the road construction to proceed or for resources to be collected from the area.”
The council also condemned what it described as “an act of barbarism” allegedly committed by MCJC volunteers against “innocent villagers” on March 28.
