Hub News: Kohima: Thursday, Saturday, 3rd
October 2026.
A wildlife offence case
involving Vezhoto Hesuh has taken a new turn, with Nagaland Police ordering a
preliminary enquiry into an alleged demand of ₹1 lakh for his release, while a
separate RTI application seeks two decades of records on how wildlife offences
have been compounded in the state.
The twin developments have brought renewed scrutiny on enforcement of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, particularly the procedures followed in detention, seizure and compounding of wildlife offences in Nagaland.
MLA seeks FIR over alleged money demand
MLA and Advisor to the Department of Science & Technology, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, has approached the Director General of Police, Nagaland, seeking an FIR and investigation into an alleged demand of ₹1 lakh by officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU), Dimapur, for the release of Hesuh.
In his complaint dated September 24, Nienu alleged that no written notice, receipt, challan, compounding order or other lawful document was provided to substantiate the alleged demand.
He also pointed to a subsequent denial by the department and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detention and alleged demand.
Nienu has sought investigation into the role of all officials involved, including WCCU Dimapur Officer-in-Charge Hukai H. Zhimo. He has also asked police to examine whether the alleged conduct amounted to corruption or abuse of official position and whether similar incidents had occurred in the past.
The MLA has further requested that relevant documents and electronic evidence be preserved and that departmental action be initiated if a prima facie case is established.
CID orders seven-day preliminary enquiry
The complaint has now prompted Nagaland Police to order a Preliminary Enquiry. An order issued by the Office of the Inspector General of Police (CID), Nagaland, in September directed ACP (West), Dimapur, Zubenthung Ovung, NPS, to conduct the enquiry, following directions from ADGP (L&O).
The matter has been registered as State Crime Police Station PE No. 05/2026, dated September 28, 2026.
The enquiry concerns the allegations of unlawful demand of money, abuse of official position and misconduct in connection with Hesuh’s detention.
The Enquiry Officer has been directed to submit a report within seven days.
RTI seeks 20 years of wildlife compounding records At the same time, an RTI application has sought detailed records covering January 1, 2006, to date on the compounding of wildlife offences in Nagaland.
It also seeks details of officers authorised to compound offences, relevant notifications, departmental rules and SOPs, the basis for fixing composition amounts, and receipts and treasury challans showing whether the money collected was deposited into the government account.
Records relating to detention and release, seizures and disposal of seized wildlife have also been sought.
The application invokes Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, under which information is ordinarily required to be provided within 30 days.
Enforcement meets customary practice debate
The developments follow recent WCCU enforcement in Phek district, including the detention of youths and seizure of protected birds.
The action triggered protests from the Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) and a wider debate over social media about wildlife law, customary practices and due process.
One side of the debate has argued that keeping or rearing birds forms part of local tradition and has questioned the circumstances surrounding the detention and alleged demand for money. Conservation advocates, meanwhile, have stressed that protected wildlife is covered by the Wildlife (Protection) Act and that enforcement remains necessary.
The issue also intersects with Nagaland’s distinctive land and resource ownership structure, with most forests under community ownership, making the role of local communities central to conservation and enforcement.
The RTI could provide a broader picture of how wildlife offences have been dealt with in Nagaland over the past 20 years including how frequently offences were compounded, who authorised the settlements, how amounts were determined and whether the money collected was formally deposited.
The police preliminary enquiry and the RTI therefore place the spotlight not only on the allegations surrounding the Hesuh case, but also on the procedure and accountability mechanisms governing wildlife enforcement in Nagaland.
The twin developments have brought renewed scrutiny on enforcement of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, particularly the procedures followed in detention, seizure and compounding of wildlife offences in Nagaland.
MLA seeks FIR over alleged money demand
MLA and Advisor to the Department of Science & Technology, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, has approached the Director General of Police, Nagaland, seeking an FIR and investigation into an alleged demand of ₹1 lakh by officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU), Dimapur, for the release of Hesuh.
In his complaint dated September 24, Nienu alleged that no written notice, receipt, challan, compounding order or other lawful document was provided to substantiate the alleged demand.
He also pointed to a subsequent denial by the department and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detention and alleged demand.
Nienu has sought investigation into the role of all officials involved, including WCCU Dimapur Officer-in-Charge Hukai H. Zhimo. He has also asked police to examine whether the alleged conduct amounted to corruption or abuse of official position and whether similar incidents had occurred in the past.
The MLA has further requested that relevant documents and electronic evidence be preserved and that departmental action be initiated if a prima facie case is established.
CID orders seven-day preliminary enquiry
The complaint has now prompted Nagaland Police to order a Preliminary Enquiry. An order issued by the Office of the Inspector General of Police (CID), Nagaland, in September directed ACP (West), Dimapur, Zubenthung Ovung, NPS, to conduct the enquiry, following directions from ADGP (L&O).
The matter has been registered as State Crime Police Station PE No. 05/2026, dated September 28, 2026.
The enquiry concerns the allegations of unlawful demand of money, abuse of official position and misconduct in connection with Hesuh’s detention.
The Enquiry Officer has been directed to submit a report within seven days.
RTI seeks 20 years of wildlife compounding records At the same time, an RTI application has sought detailed records covering January 1, 2006, to date on the compounding of wildlife offences in Nagaland.
It also seeks details of officers authorised to compound offences, relevant notifications, departmental rules and SOPs, the basis for fixing composition amounts, and receipts and treasury challans showing whether the money collected was deposited into the government account.
Records relating to detention and release, seizures and disposal of seized wildlife have also been sought.
The application invokes Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, under which information is ordinarily required to be provided within 30 days.
Enforcement meets customary practice debate
The developments follow recent WCCU enforcement in Phek district, including the detention of youths and seizure of protected birds.
The action triggered protests from the Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) and a wider debate over social media about wildlife law, customary practices and due process.
One side of the debate has argued that keeping or rearing birds forms part of local tradition and has questioned the circumstances surrounding the detention and alleged demand for money. Conservation advocates, meanwhile, have stressed that protected wildlife is covered by the Wildlife (Protection) Act and that enforcement remains necessary.
The issue also intersects with Nagaland’s distinctive land and resource ownership structure, with most forests under community ownership, making the role of local communities central to conservation and enforcement.
The RTI could provide a broader picture of how wildlife offences have been dealt with in Nagaland over the past 20 years including how frequently offences were compounded, who authorised the settlements, how amounts were determined and whether the money collected was formally deposited.
The police preliminary enquiry and the RTI therefore place the spotlight not only on the allegations surrounding the Hesuh case, but also on the procedure and accountability mechanisms governing wildlife enforcement in Nagaland.
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