Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Thousands of Chakhesang youths flooded the streets of Phek district on Monday to protest against a wildlife case targeting one of their own. Dressed in traditional attire, the marchers started at Rukizu Junction and ended at the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner in Pfutsero. The Central Chakhesang Youth Organisation led the charge.
The group submitted a formal memo to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. They want the case against Vezhoto Hesuh dropped immediately. The legal trouble began on September 11 when the Wildlife Crime Control Unit in Dimapur summoned Hesuh. This followed social media posts showing him with a monkey in Assam and two birds. The organization claims he never owned the animals. They insist the footage shows no signs of cruelty or illegal capture.
Corruption allegations hang over the case. The youth group claims a bribe of Rs 1 lakh was demanded for Hesuh’s release. They say the case was only filed after he refused to pay. The organization now demands an independent inquiry into the incident. The rally also targeted the September 14 seizure of a Great Barbet from Porba village. A young boy had cared for the bird for seven years. Its removal left the child in distress and the village on edge.
The memorandum calls for officials to respect local traditions. They cited Article 371A of the Constitution to argue that special state protections should guide how central laws are applied in Nagaland. Additional Deputy Commissioner Mhalo Humtsoe received the document. She promised to send it to the Chief Minister's Office. The CCYO issued a strict warning regarding their next steps. They stated, "failure to receive satisfactory action within the stipulated period would prompt it to pursue further courses of action to protect what it described as the rights and interests of the Chakhesang community." The clock is ticking. The government has seven days to act.
Updated at 29th September 2026 at 1:49am
The rally, known as a traditional procession or Kuhu-Kurile, featured statements from prominent community figures including Centre Chakhesang Public Organisation president Pupohu Lohe, Porba Village Council chairman Cekrohu Ciero, and former Chakhesang Students Union president Vevoyi WD Vadeo. These leaders joined the youth organization in framing the state's actions as a violation of Naga customary and traditional rights.
Documents signed by CCYO president Dode Nakro and general secretary Shevoto Vezuh clarify that the organization views the Forest Department's actions as high-handed, noting that the social media posts were insufficient grounds to establish criminal intent without proof of actual possession or harm. The group argued that the Great Barbet was traditionally kept for companionship and served as a cultural indicator of time in village life.
Regarding the legal standoff, the memorandum explicitly demands the identification of the specific officials involved in the alleged extortion attempt to ensure they face legal consequences. The organization maintains that the state must treat the incident as a human and cultural matter rather than just a dry enforcement of central wildlife statutes.
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