The village council and the villagers of Longtsiri in Wokha district reportedly stopped the ‘illegal activities’ allegedly carried out by the ONGC at Longtsiri village under Bhandari Sub division, Champang Block, Wokha district Wednesday.

 

Mhonthung Kithan, Head GB of Longstiri, talking to the news outlet North East Live, said that a group of people from Kolkata came to the Longtsiri village claiming that they were from the ONGC and had come for a survey.

 

However, according to Kithan, the group from Kolkata did not possess any license for exploration from the Nagaland government. Therefore, the village council, the villagers and the stakeholders stopped them from pursuing the exploration.

 

However, despite the order from the council, according to Kithan, the group brought all kinds of machinery and camped at Longtsiri village and started performing their activities which compelled the council to report to the OC of Champang Village.

 

Following this, the village council and the villagers went to the location and stopped the activities and thereafter, 9 persons claiming to be ONGC employees, along with their machinery were taken to the police station.

 

According to MLA Achumbemo Kikon, illegal activities have been going on for many years by the ONGC; however, no permanent solution has been found so far. He clarified to the news outlet that this time the employees of the ONGC were caught surveying the oil deposits in the heart of Longstiri village and that the area does not fall under the Disturbed Area Belt.

 

The MLA also told the news outlet that despite having an EAC post in the Champang block, no officer has been posted there yet. According to the MLA, there is also one police company post, but no police have been deployed to the post.

 

“Due to the lack of administration and police, all illegal activities from Assam is being encouraged and the villagers are left without any protection,” he told the news outlet, adding that he will take the matter to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and raise the issue of illegal activities being carried out and also ensure that an EAC and the police company is deployed.

 

Meanwhile, it was reported that the 9 persons who were arrested on 25 April on the charge of intruding into and exploring oil at Longtsiri village under Wokha District without the knowledge of the Government of Nagaland, have already been released on bail by the ADC Bhandari on 26 April.

 

Mokokchung Times

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