Kohima: The Porbami Youth Organisation blasted the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change today. They want Vezhoto Hesuh released immediately. Officials picked up Hesuh after he posted videos and photos to his Facebook account. One clip showed him feeding a monkey in Assam. Another featured a caged Great Barbet at Porba Village. A third image showed him with a Spotted Owlet on his shoulder.
The group claims the arrest caused the family “immense stress, anxiety and mental harassment.” They insist the department failed to prove any crime took place. According to the PYO, forest officials demanded 1 lakh rupees to let Hesuh go. They are calling for an impartial inquiry into that payment demand. The organization wants the department to explain exactly which laws were broken.
Forest staff seized the Great Barbet from Porba Village on September 14. The group insists the bird was kept for tradition, not profit. Local farmers rely on the bird to signal the start of work and meal times. The PYO argues that Article 371A protects these cultural customs. They maintain that the community values the bird for its companionship and distinct call rather than for meat.
The group claims they support biodiversity. They monitor their ancestral lands to stop illegal hunting and habitat destruction. They have a 24-hour volunteer patrol to enforce these environmental protections. The organization rejects the notion that they support wildlife exploitation. They are now waiting for the unconditional release of Hesuh and the return of their bird.
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