Kohima, Oct. 1: An organisation representing the Sumi tribe of Nagaland has given the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) 21 days to “evict” a Zeliangrong settlement in Intangki National Park or face a rebellion.

The Western Sumi Hoho today accused the militant group of protecting Beisumpuikam village, inhabited by the Zeliangrong community, and targeting a nearby village with a homogenous population.

“Till date, there have been 23 eviction attempts at Inavi village by the state government and the NSCN (I-M). On the other hand, not a single eviction attempt has been made at Beisumpuikam despite the two villages being in the same area,” the organisation said. Militants of the NSCN (I-M) set 100 houses at Inavi village ablaze on September 29.

Western Sumi Hoho president Hokiye Yepthomi said it was obvious that the NSCN (I-M) was prejudiced against the Sumi community and favourable towards the Zeliangrongs, who he accused of being the “real violators”. Inavi village was established on the “strength of a government order”, he added.

Yepthomi also criticised the Tenyimi Central Union for supporting the Zeliangrong community’s “baseless” claim on land in a protected forest.

The Tenyimi union is a conglomerate of at least 10 Naga tribes who are claiming Dimapur and its adjoining areas as theirs.

The Western Sumi Hoho appealed to Naga organisations, including the Naga Hoho, to visit Beisumpuikam and Inavi to judge whether the NSCN (I-M) had done justice.

If the NSCN (I-M) does not treat Beisumpuikam by the same yardstick, the Sumi community will be compelled to decide its own course of action, Yepthomi said. Forest and environment minister Kheto Sumi said in the Assembly recently that residents of Beisumpuikam were the first to encroach on the park.