Kohima: A flare-up of violence at Zaonger village on October 10 forced families from their homes. The Zaonger Mihkhung Arihako (ZMA) blames a long-running feud between two communities. Property damage followed as tensions boiled over.
A District Customary Court formed by the Kiphire Deputy Commissioner in April 2025 failed to end the standoff. This body operated under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Yimkhiung Tribal Council and the Tikhir Tribal Council. The pact mandated that, “That the subject of any dispute/issue between the members of the two brother tribes should be localized, and resolved through customary laws and practices and status quo will be maintained.” The court directed the Zaonger Village Council to pay Rs 25,000 for an oath-taking ceremony on May 14, 2025. The money moved, but the case stayed stalled.
Discontent simmered for months. A Joint Coordination Committee issued a 45-day ultimatum to the state government in December 2025. It went ignored. Later, 73 people claiming Tikhir status lost their village citizenship and faced expulsion orders. They refused to leave.
Conflict ignited when organizers planned the Tikhir Tsonglak-Nyi Festival 2026 for October 10. Zaonger Gaon Buras warned them off on October 9. A village council order from April 21, 2026, already banned these groups from holding public events. Pungro administration officials and local police tried to mediate, but festival preparations rolled on.
Crowds gathered on the morning of October 10. Residents demanded they disperse. The verbal fight turned into minor vandalism at a home, and the Tikhir-speaking group cleared out. A viral WhatsApp message then pushed anger into Pokphur and Longtsonger villages. Pokphur saw Yimkhiung houses burned. Retaliation followed. Zaonger residents torched homes belonging to the expelled members. The ZMA expressed regret but maintained that holding the festival inside the village by expelled citizens was unacceptable.
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