Thousands of youths from the Chakhesang community held a massive demonstration in Phek district on September 28, demanding the withdrawal of a wildlife case against a community member and the return of a Great Barbet allegedly seized by forest officials.
The rally was organised by the Central Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO). It started from Rukizu Junction and proceeded towards the Office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner at Pfutsero. Many of the participants were dressed in traditional attire.
During the protest, the organisation submitted a memorandum addressed to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, raising concerns over the wildlife case involving Vezhoto Hesuh and the seizure of the bird from Porba village.
According to the CCYO, Hesuh was summoned by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) of the Wildlife Division, Dimapur, on September 11 in connection with photographs and videos uploaded on his social media account.
The organisation said the posts included a video of Hesuh offering a sweet to a monkey in Assam, another video showing a bird inside a cage and a photograph of him with a bird perched on his shoulder.
The CCYO claimed that the monkey and the two birds shown in the posts did not belong to Hesuh and were not in his custody. It also said that none of the posts showed any act of cruelty, killing, capture or intentional harm.
The youth organisation further alleged that Rs 1 lakh was demanded for Hesuh’s release and that a case was registered after he refused to pay the amount. However, the allegation has not been independently verified.
The protest also raised the issue of a Great Barbet allegedly seized from Porba village on September 14. The CCYO claimed that the bird had been reared by a young boy for around six to seven years and that its seizure had caused distress to the child as well as concern among the villagers.
The organisation appealed to the authorities to take traditional practices and the sentiments of the local community into consideration while implementing wildlife laws.
The CCYO also referred to Article 371A of the Constitution, stating that the special constitutional safeguards applicable to Nagaland should be considered while enforcing Central laws in areas covered under the provision.
The youth organisation has given the state government and the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department seven days to withdraw the case against Hesuh, return the seized Great Barbet and order an independent inquiry into the alleged demand for Rs 1 lakh.
It said that if no satisfactory action is taken within the given time, it would consider further courses of action to safeguard what it described as the rights and interests of the Chakhesang community.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Mhalo Humtsoe, who received the memorandum, assured the CCYO that it would be forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Office at the earliest.