Longtsunger village strips 3 GBs, expels those who fled

KIPHIRE – The Longtsunger Village Citizen (LVC) in Kiphire district has revoked the status of three of the village’s gaon buras (GBs), accusing them of inviting outsiders to attack the village. It has also declared the three, nine village guards (VGs) and all families who fled the village “permanently expelled”.

The decision was taken at a general village assembly on Nov. 1, according to a “Declaration and Proclamation” dated Nov. 3. It is signed by LVC president P Torepkiu and executive chairman S Tothong.

The allegations in the declaration are the LVC’s own. Nagaland.News has not independently verified them.

What the Longtsunger village declaration says

The LVC named the three GBs as T T Tsangli, P Yanmong and K Yongpanthong. It alleged that they “colluded with external elements by inviting intruders from the Kiusam Area (Tikhir Volunteers) to attack our village”.

Calling this “an act of betrayal”, the LVC said their GB status was “revoked and terminated with immediate effect”. The declaration does not say what evidence the assembly relied on, who the “Tikhir Volunteers” are, or on what date the attack took place.

On the nine VGs posted in the village by the state government, the LVC alleged that they “utterly failed to perform their mandated duty to protect and defend the village during the attack, fleeing their posts instead”. It “formally calls for the removal and revocation of these sanctioned VG posts from Longtsunger Village”.

Citing “treasonous acts and gross neglect of duty”, the declaration says that “the 3 former GBs, the 9 Village Guards, and all households, families and relatives who fled and abandoned the village are hereby permanently expelled from Longtsunger Village”. It does not say how many households this covers.

Gaon buras are appointed through the district administration, and VG posts are sanctioned by the state government. Nagaland.News could not immediately confirm whether the Kiphire district administration has received the declaration or will act on it.

Oct. 10 violence at Longtsunger

The declaration follows violence at Longtsunger on Oct. 10. At least one person was killed and another injured in a gunfight between members of the Tikhir and Yimkhiung communities, PTI reported, citing police. Police said the violence followed a dispute over a Tikhir festival celebration in villages both communities share.

The district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS in parts of Pungro sub-division. A district assessment found 11 houses burnt and 83 people displaced in Longtsunger, The Morung Express reported on Oct. 14. Across Longtsunger, Pokphur and Thulun villages, 157 people were displaced.

In a statement on Oct. 14, the LVC said armed intruders from the Kiusam area had targeted the village council chairman’s residence and set fire to structures, according to The Morung Express. It said one alleged intruder was shot dead and that the nine VGs had deserted their posts.

The Tikhir community of Longtsunger has disputed that account. In a statement dated Oct. 18, it said it had been warned against celebrating its Tsonglaknyi festival on Oct. 10, and that people from Kiusam came to its rescue when the confrontation became uncontrollable. It alleged that armed people had been stationed in and around Longtsunger from Oct. 9.

The same Morung Express report carried a separate statement, dated Oct. 18 and attributed to the Longtsunger Village Citizens, that gave a different account of the VGs. It said the nine VGs were directed to leave by the deputy commandant in charge of VG Kiphire after their houses were burnt, and were evacuated to Kiusam headquarters with police help. Nagaland.News could not establish whether that statement and the Nov. 1 declaration came from the same body.

The Tikhir Tribal Council has condemned the violence and called for a “prompt, impartial and transparent investigation”.

Response

Nagaland.News could not reach T T Tsangli, P Yanmong, K Yongpanthong, the nine village guards or representatives of the Tikhir community for comment on the declaration. The Kiphire district administration had not responded by the time of publication. Their responses will be added when received. Also Read Nagaland sets state-wide mass social work for Nov. 13