The Tzurangkong Kaketshir Mungdang (TKM) has expressed “deep grief and outrage” over Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s recent statement that Assam and Nagaland would share natural resource royalties on a 50:50 basis from the exploitation of resources in Tzurangkong.

In a statement issued by TKM President Pangertoba and General Secretary Moalila, the organization firmly asserted that “Tzurangkong range is the ancestral land and home of the Tzurangkong people and the Ao Naga community in general.” They emphasized that the land has been “inhabited and protected by our forefathers for generations,” and warned that they cannot allow “any form of exploitation that disregards our rightful ownership and traditional land rights.”

The TKM strongly opposed “any exploration or extraction of natural resources in our land” and stated that “no external entity or authority is allowed to exploit the resources of Tzurangkong against the will of our people.” Calling it “a very serious matter,” they urged the government to “address it with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”

The organization further criticized the state government for making “unilateral decisions regarding land and resources without consulting the rightful landowners,” stating that such actions create “unnecessary tension, particularly in a small northeastern state like Nagaland, where border areas are already vulnerable to encroachments and disputes.”

“As rightful owners, it is our duty to protect our land, and we will not remain silent when our ancestral rights are at stake,” TKM asserted.

They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the “land, identity, and heritage of the Tzurangkong people and the Ao Naga community from any form of encroachment or exploitation.”

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