Correspondent KOHIMA, JAN 27 (NPN) : Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) disclosed that it was seriously pursuing and assisting the police to nab culprits responsible for the devastating fire that broke out at Dzükou Valley on December 29,2020.
Informing this at a press meet at the Southern Angami Board of Trustee building here on Wednesday, SAYO president Zakieleto Tsükrü said an FIR had been lodged with Khuzama police station (PS) on January 12 with some evidences produced to police pertaining to the case.
He also told media that as a follow-up to the case, SAYO executives met the officer In-charge (OC) of Khuzama PS on January 25, during which the OC disclosed that he had contacted his counterpart at Mao PS and that necessary procedures have been initiated to nab the culprits.
Tsükrü said that so far no one has been arrested but was hopeful that police will investigate the case with all seriousness and bring the culprits to justice.
He said that every incident of forest fires in the valley were caused by trespassers and affirmed that SAYO would bring the case to a logical closure at all cost.
Tsükrü also said SAYO was fully committed to safeguarding the people’s ancestral land from all these trespassers who he accused of trying to destroy their natural resources.
SAYO leaders said though there has been no full scale survey to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire, the organisation estimated that close to 15 square km of vegetation, including around 6 km of land covered by trees, have been burnt. While thanking the government for rendering full support in efforts to fight the fire, SAYO also requested it to provide necessary equipment and logistics to help contain future fires at initial stages so as to avert greater destruction.
SAYO thanked all government agencies, especially armed forces- air force, army, Assam Rifles- including police and home guards. SAYO also thanked the Manipur government led by its chief minister N Biren Singh in providing support during the recent disaster.
Tsükrü further announced that Dzükou would be opened to general public from February 1,2021.
As all trekking activities to the valley had been suspended following COVID-19 outbreak, he said appropriate SOPs would be in place to permit only 50 hikers in a day to enter the valley.
Also as per the memorandum signed by governments of Nagaland and Manipur on November 26, 2018, only two official routes– one from Viswema and the other from Jakhama– would be used while trekking to the valley. He warned that any person violating the directives would be sternly dealt with.
All bookings to the valley will be done at Viswema and officials who can be contacted at 93621-57451 or 76389-06375. Every individual will have to produce proper identification documents during booking.
SAYO leaders reminded the public that in order to conserve the rich flora and fauna at Dzükou, a total ban on hunting put in place in 2018 remains effective.
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