Dimapur: In a major development in the ongoing Dimapur Airport land encroachment case, the Nagaland Police have named 31 individuals—comprising 25 private individuals and six public servants—as accused in connection with the illegal occupation of government land through forged documents.
According to the state police, all 31 have been recommended for chargesheeting on serious criminal charges. Chargesheets have already been filed against 25 private individuals, while sanction for prosecution has been sought from the concerned departments for the six public servants, as mandated by law.
The offences, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), include criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and related criminal acts.
The case stems from allegations of illegal encroachment on government land at Dimapur Airport through forged and fabricated documents. Following directives from the Home Department, Government of Nagaland, a Preliminary Enquiry was initiated, which established that prima facie a cognizable offence had been committed. This led to the registration of a regular criminal case (FIR) at the State Crime Police Station (SCPS), PHQ.
“Based on the outcome of the Preliminary enquiry and establishing that prima facie a cognizable offence was made out, a regular Criminal Case (FIR) was registered at State Crime Police Station (SCPS), PHQ,” the state police stated.
A Special Investigating Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the matter. After what the Nagaland Police described as a “thorough investigation” involving the collection and scrutiny of evidence, the SIT recommended that all 31 accused persons be chargesheeted.
The Nagaland police further stated that after obtaining approval from the competent authority, the SIT had filed chargesheets against 25 private individuals (accused persons), in the Hon’ble Court at Dimapur. In the case of the six accused public servants, the Investigation officer and SIT has sought sanction for prosecution from the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) and the Department of Land Records, as mandated by law.
Meanwhile, following a prolonged legal battle, the state government on Friday undertook eviction of illegal occupants from the encroached Dimapur Airport land. The eviction drive, jointly carried out by the Chümoukedima and Dimapur district administrations on June 13, led to the demolition of 24 structures, including four RCC buildings, three semi-pucca structures, and 17 thatched houses.
Officials confirmed that land illegally occupied by 22 individuals was cleared during the operation, which covered 17.9 acres at Dag No. 38 and 40 of Diphupar village.
Further legal proceedings in the case are expected in the coming weeks.
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