Vezhoto Hesuh’s clan opposes bid to drop Rs 1 lakh FIR

PHEK – The clan of Vezhoto Hesuh, the Porba villager whose detention by wildlife officials in September triggered weeks of protest in Phek district, has rejected a public demand to withdraw the police case over an alleged Rs 1 lakh payment sought for his release, calling it an attempt to “hijack and derail the process of justice“.

In a two-page public clarification dated November 9, the Dzüdotsomi clan of Porba village said Shekho Thuluo, who addressed the press on November 3, had never been authorised by the clan or by Hesuh to speak for them. It said Thuluo had no “familial locus standi” to represent the family and called his claim to do so “totally baseless, erroneous and misconceived”.

The statement was signed by clan chairman Veduta Dzüdo and secretary Shetso Dzüdo.

It is the second disavowal of Thuluo’s press conference in a week. On November 5 and 6, the Porbami Youth Organisation wrote to the Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) saying the clan had affirmed that Thuluo was not mandated to speak for it or for the village. The clan has now said so in its own name and gone further, taking a public position on the criminal case.

Clan backs police probe

The clan said it “outrightly” opposed Thuluo’s demand that the FIR be withdrawn. It described the demand as an attempt to derail justice and as “being motivated to shield and protect the erring officials of the Forest Department“. The officials named in the case have not been publicly identified, and the allegation against them remains under investigation.

The clan said the investigation “should continue with utmost sincerity and without any delay“, and urged investigators to carry out a “swift, fair and time-bound” probe. It said Hesuh and his family would cooperate fully with the investigating agency until the case is concluded, “to ensure justice and a corruption-free society“.

The State Crime Police Station registered the FIR in October against a forest official of the Wildlife Division in Dimapur and others, over the alleged demand of Rs 1 lakh from Hesuh to secure his release, UNI reported. According to that report, the complainant said no notice, receipt or challan was given to justify the demand.

‘Family was consulted’

The clan also rejected what it described as claims that the family had not been consulted and had not seen the agreement papers signed by the CCYO and the government. It called those claims “totally wrong and baseless“.

According to the clarification, the clan chairman attended the meeting at Hotel Japfü in Kohima on October 14 where the matter was resolved, along with representatives of the Porbami Youth Organisation, the Porba Village Council and the Porbami Social Club, Kohima. It said Hesuh signed the relevant paper at Porba village on the evening of the same day, in the presence of representatives of the CCYO, the youth organisation, the village council, the clan chairman, other family members and the Forest Department.

The October 14 joint declaration was signed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vedpal Singh and CCYO president Dode Nakro, with both sides agreeing to settle the matter out of court, The Morung Express reported.

The clan said it reserves all legal rights and remedies over Thuluo’s actions. It asked social media users and the press not to refer to or recognise him as representing the family, the clan or Hesuh “now and in the days to come”.

Nagaland.News could not find a published report of Thuluo’s November 3 press conference, and his account of what he said is not known. He has not publicly responded to the clan’s statement.

Thanks to Chakhesang bodies

The clan thanked the CCYO and other Centre Chakhesang public and youth organisations, the Centre Chakhesang GBs Union, Porba’s village council and youth organisation, and villages across the Centre Chakhesang area, including Sakraba, Gidemi, Pholami and Lower, Middle and Upper Khomi. It also thanked the Western Chakhesang Hoho and its youth organisation, Centre Chakhesang welfare unions in Pfutsero, Kohima and Dimapur, and youth bodies in Phek and Pfutsero towns.

The clan ended its statement with an apology for “the inconvenience and confusion caused”.

Background

Hesuh was summoned by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit of the Dimapur Wildlife Division on September 11 over wildlife photographs and videos posted on his Facebook page, The Morung Express reported. A Great Barbet reared in Porba village was seized on September 14 and was later released into the village community forest.

On September 28 the CCYO marched in Pfutsero and gave the state government a seven-day ultimatum, demanding that the case be withdrawn, the bird returned and the alleged Rs 1 lakh demand independently probed. The organisation sealed forest offices in Phek and Pfutsero on October 12, before the October 14 settlement in Kohima.

This article is based on the Dzüdotsomi clan’s public clarification dated November 9, 2026, and earlier reporting by Nagaland.News, The Morung Express and UNI.