June 4 victims’ families receive compensation of INR 2 lac. each

Eastern Mirror Desk

Dimapur, August 20:  As initiated and demanded by the Zeme Council Dimapur and Sangtam Union Dimapur for compensation to the families of the three deceased persons, the department of Relief and Rehabilitation, government of Nagaland sanctioned INR 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the three victims of June 4 2018 gruesome murder case in Dimapur. The compensation money was handed over to the parents of the three deceased persons by the DDLSA at the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority’s office in Dimapur.

It may be recalled that on June 4, three boys in their teens identified as Tateutui Newme from Nchan village in Peren; Tia Sangtam from Tethuze village in Kiphire; and Hori Teron from Gaitor village, Assam who were employed at a hotel were found murdered by two of their roommates inside an apartment in Dimapur.

The two accused have been identified as Waisong Engti (18 years) from Biren Teron village in Diphu Karbi Anglong and Aron Rongphi (19 years) from Shigari Timong village in Diphu, Karbi Anglong. They were arrested by the Dimapur police with assistance from the Karbi Anglong superintendent of police and Manja police station officer-in charge on June 12.

The process for compensatory awards to the families of the victims began with an application for compensation under the Nagaland Victim Compensation Scheme 2012 appended by the president of Sangtam Union Dimapur, YH Sangtam, and the president of Zeme Council Dimapur, Ngauloi John to the chairman of Dimapur District Legal Services Authority Neiko Kanuo. The letter was further appended by the chairman of DDLSA Neiko Kanuo to the secretary of Home Department Relief and Rehabilitation recommending INR 2 lakh each to the three families of the deceased persons.

On Monday Aug. 20, the principal district and session judge, Dimapur; and chief judicial magistrate, Dimapur awarded the sanctioned amount by the department of Relief and Rehabilitation of INR 2 lakh each to the parents of the three victims at the office of NSLSA in Dimapur.

The event was attended by the parents of the three deceased persons including the president and secretary of Zeme Council Dimapur; president of Sangtam Union Dimapur; and president of Karbi Union Dimapur.

The principal of district and session judge said that timely approach by the organisations made it possible for the release of the compensation. He expressed satisfaction that the three families could be aided from the government’s compensation scheme.

Speaking to the Eastern Mirror over the telephone, one of the victims father, Agie Newme expressed gratitude to the Zeme Council Dimapur and its president, Ngauloibe. He expressed appreciation to advocate Asungbe Hau, who represented as a penal advocate for the petitioners in the proceedings. Also he thanked former candidate from Tening constituency Namdodi Riame for hosting and assisting the family from the date of murder till date. Agie further thanked the Dimapur District Legal Services Authority and the department of Relief and Rehabilitation, government of Nagaland for making the compensatory awards possible. Agie added that receiving compensation would not be the end but the Zeme council would held a meeting with the Sangtam union tomorrow to discuss about the steps to be taken against the two perpetrators. He maintained that they would be emphasising on not bailing the two.

Meanwhile, the vice president of Zeme Students Union, Amua Francis lauded the Zeme Council Dimapur and Sangtam Union Dimapur for initiating the compensation process. The union also expressed satisfaction to the DDLSA for bringing immediate relief to the family of late Tateutui Zeme and the two other families. The union further stated that stringent punishment should be given to the perpetrators at the earliest so that any misunderstanding and doubts would be eased from the Zeme and Sangtam communities.