Chümoukedima: The Diphupar Village Council (DVC), in collaboration with affiliated organizations and local communities, organized a public rally on Saturday, August 24, to protest the ongoing issues of taxation, extortion, kidnapping, and threats faced by leaders and citizens in Nagaland.
These acts have been linked to various underground groups.
The rally, which drew about 2,000 participants from tribal bodies, student groups, women and youth organizations, and the minority community, traversed the Diphupar area. It began at Airport Junction 3rd Mile, proceeded to Green Park Junction, and concluded at the North East Agri Expo gate in Chümoukedima.
Participants condemned the rising criminal activities in Diphupar and across Nagaland, particularly taxation, extortion, and threats that have created an environment of fear for individuals, families, businesses, and communities.
The protest was sparked by recent threats and intimidation involving firearms against the president of the Diphupar Naga Youth Organisation (DNYO) and civilians, drawing widespread condemnation.
A rally participant, who requested anonymity, told EastMojo: “The people of Nagaland are fed up with threats and extortions in the name of the ‘national struggle.’ Once, I believed in the movement, but now I am disheartened. All I see is taxation, extortion, kidnapping, and threats to innocent people. This is not healthy for our society.”
Addressing the rally, T Molungba Ao, president of the DNYO, expressed frustration with the situation and emphasized that public leaders and civil society cannot remain silent. “The world belongs to pens, not guns,” he said. “Our pens hold more power than your guns.”
Former Naga Hoho president H.K. Zhimomi pointed to the proliferation of self-styled position holders within underground factions as a key reason for the unrest in society. He asserted that only those genuinely fighting for the Naga cause should be allowed to stand for the people.
During the rally, the Diphupar Village Council adopted a resolution, later submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima. The resolution demanded that those responsible be prosecuted under the National Security Act of 1980 and opposed any attempts to bail out the accused. The council also reaffirmed its opposition to the public carrying of firearms within the village and reiterated support for a “One Government, One Tax” policy to streamline tax collection under a single authority. Additionally, it vowed to strictly enforce the Ceasefire Ground Rules in “letter and spirit.”
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