The time for jhum cultivation has begun in Nagaland and like many other villages in Nagaland, the Aosenden Villagers under Tzürangkong range of Mokokchung district has begun their jhum cultivation activities by clearing the forest area which, according to the Aosenden Village Council, is their ancestral land.
However, on 8 March, according to the Aosenden Village Council, at around 5:30 pm, suspected miscreants from the Assam side of the border came to the village’s jhum fields and kindled fire before the completion of jungle clearance, “accruing interruption in the series of cultivation.”
“In the past few decades, our villagers had cultivated twice (in the same area) without any disturbance or issue from Assam,” the Aosenden Village Council said in a press statement following the incident.
“We had cultivated twice (in the same area) without any disturbance or issue from Assam in the past few decades. I do not know why they have an issue only this year. They have come and disturbed us even in February of this year,” a distraught Sama, Chairman of Aosenden Village Council, told Mokokchung Times.
The village council explained that they began their jhum cultivation activities from February 6 by clearing the forest and reiterated that it was their ancestral land which they had cultivated twice “without any disturbance or issue from Assam” in the past few decades.
However, as Sama shared before, the March 8 incident was not the first.
What took place prior to 8 March?
According to the Aosenden village council, on 8 February, 2023, some Assam media personnel along with Assam Forest Department and Assam Police personnel came to the spot and harassed the villagers and took away a car belonging to the villagers.
Following this, according to the Village Council, on February 13, the border officials from both states held a joint meeting in Chungtiayimsen Village and “unanimously agreed to go ahead with the cultivation since it is the only source of livelihood to the villagers.”
According to the Border magistrate of Tzürangkong, Yanithung Ngullie, during the February 13 meeting, the Assam side alleged “cutting of trees and bamboo by Aosenden villagers at Desoi Reserve Forest.”
To this, he said, he highlighted the “interim agreement made in 1972 between Assam and Nagaland” which stated, “The Assam Government however agrees that Naga settlements in the Desoi Reserved Forest existing on the date of this agreement will not be distributed” and clarified that the allegations raised by Assam side falls under the cultivation area of Aosenden village and therefore, “should be allowed to cultivate without any disturbance.”
According to the village council, upon agreement, the villagers resumed their work from 6 March, 2023. However, the unfortunate incident still took place on 8 March.
“For the record, we the Aosenden Villagers have been cultivating here for the third time (a rotation basis) yet, this time the intervention from the Assam side extends beyond and they keep vigilance by patrolling every day,” the village council stated.
The aftermath of 8 March
With jhum agriculture being the main source of livelihood, the villagers have appealed to the concerned authority to look into the matter and take necessary action at the earliest so that the villagers can start their cultivation process at the right season without delay.
“We have informed the administrations and we are hopeful they will do the needful. As of now, the villagers have decided not to go to the spot without the presence of administration and create an unwanted situation; however, we are staying vigilant enough,” Sama said.
Meanwhile, since the area falls under the cultivation area of Aosenden village, the Border Magistrate of Tzürangkong said, “We will meet with our counterparts in Assam and ensure that people are not harassed or disturbed. We will also ensure that cultivation is allowed without any hindrance.”
