The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) on Friday organised a peace rally at Jharnapani (New Medziphema) over the long-standing Maova land dispute, accusing the Maova Village Council of pursuing a decades-long strategy to deny the rights of traditional landowners and alleging continued inaction on the part of the government.
The rally, held on the theme “Protest against Non-Acknowledgment of Traditional Land Owners and the Government’s Inaction,” drew participants from various villages and civil society organisations within the Chakhroma area.
It may be mentioned that the land dispute in Chumoukedima district had turned violent on February 13, 2026 when clashes at Maova village left at least 26 people injured, including a government official and a police personnel.
The dispute revolves around competing claims over traditional land ownership involving the Angami community and the status of the Kuki residents of Maova village.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers spoke about the long history of attempts by the Maova Village Council to bypass the rights of traditional landowners and undermine civil administrative processes.
The CPO maintained that the rally was organised as a peaceful and democratic expression against what it termed the continued non-recognition of traditional landowners’ rights and the government’s failure to address the issue effectively.
The Organisation urged the authorities to ensure impartial implementation of the law, recognise the rights of traditional landowners, and take appropriate steps to bring about a lasting and peaceful resolution to the long-pending dispute.
After the rally, the CPO submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Secretary through the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Medziphema.
CPO reiterates eight-point charter of demands over Maova Village issue
The CPO reiterated its eight-point charter of demands to the Nagaland Government following a peace rally held at Jharnapani (New Medziphema) over the ongoing dispute involving Maova Village.
In a memorandum addressed to the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland, through the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Medziphema, the CPO said the demands were a reiteration of representations previously submitted by the organisation and the Chakhroma Youth Organisation.
Among its key demands, the CPO urged the government to enforce recommendations and orders issued by administrative authorities, including directives of successive Extra Assistant Commissioners of Medziphema during 1979–80 and the order of the then SDO (Civil), Medziphema, issued in 2001.
The Organisation also demanded that Maova Village be directed to comply with historical government orders and recognise the traditional land ownership of Tsütsüma Village by paying the nominal annual token tax. It further called for the enforcement of the 30-day ultimatum earlier issued by the then Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Maongwati Aier, directing Maova Village to pay annual tax to Tsütsüma Village.
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The CPO sought an immediate review of the status of the Maova Village Council, alleging repeated violations of administrative orders, and urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that state protection is not used to suppress indigenous customary rights.
The memorandum further demanded the immediate derecognition of Maova Village for allegedly refusing to acknowledge the traditional land ownership of the Chakhroma people as decreed by the then ADC, Peren, in 1981.
It also called for the removal of Seiboi Changsang as Head GB of Maova Village and sought the discontinuation of the hereditary GB/chieftainship system, contending that such a practice is not provided for under the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act, 1978.
The CPO further demanded suspension of the issuance of birth certificates, permanent residential certificates, indigenous inhabitant certificates and other official documents for Maova Village until such documents are issued strictly on the basis of the 1963 electoral roll.
Additionally, the Organisation urged the government to execute and oversee the expulsion of three individuals—Sutminlal Vaiphei, former chairman; Seiboi Changsang, Head GB; and Paoboi Changsang, former chairman—as ordered by the Chakhroma Youth Organisation in accordance with Angami customary law and practices.
