The meeting, attended by chairman, secretaries and youth from all affected villages, strongly condemned the notification stating that on July 3, 2023, a round table conference was held at the DC’s office and agreed upon that he would forward to the higher authority that majority of the people in the area does not want the declaration of the sanctuary.

Despite his assurance, he issued further notification without the knowledge of the community and the people of the affected villages. Therefore, in the emergency meeting, the people strongly condemned and appealed the revocation of the notification issued by the office of DC Tamenglong, dated October 3, 2023, the convenor stated.

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Further, the committee reiterated that there are multiple procedural lapses prior to the notification for declaring Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary and that, if the concerned authorities declare ZWS despite strong protest, thousands of people in the region will be displaced, the ZWSAV said.

The ZWSAV also warned the vested interest individuals who work with the government for declaration of ZWS to withdraw all the documents related to the sanctuary at the earliest in the interest of the Naga community. If any untoward incident happens to anyone, the committee will not be held responsible, it further warned.

It is also pertinent to mention that UNC, RNCM, RNYOM, RNSOM, RNLPM and other CSO have been strongly condemning the tenacious and crafty act of the state government in declaring wildlife sanctuary and other reserved and protected forest without the consent of the people of Naga inhabited areas, the convenor said.

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