Lotha Hoho alarmed by alleged ‘abuse of administrative power’

Dimapur, Nov. 5 (EMN): The Lotha Hoho has observed that “unprovoked imposition” of section 144 CrPC “remains an issue” with the Wokha district administration. It issued a statement on Sunday raising concern over what it stated was ‘abuse of administrative power’ by the district authority.

The Lotha Hoho statement comes in the backdrop of an incident in October where the Wokha administration had clamped section 144 CrPC on protesters assembled to participate in a silent procession. The rally was to protest the alleged assault of a student in uniform “by a crowd” at Wokha town.

“Unfortunately the district administration imposed CrPC 144, on that day, so as to prevent the silent rally. The Lotha organisations, led by Lotha Hoho, have expressed contempt for unprovoked imposition of CrPC 144, by the district administration, Wokha.

“The Lotha organisations, have jointly deliberated the issue, examined the various aspects of justification to promulgate the prohibitory order…The Lotha organisations have therefore been fully convinced that the imposition of CrPC 144, was unprovoked and uncalled for and hence arrived at a consensus conclusion that the imposition of the prohibitory order was against the fundamental democratic right, provisioned in the Indian Constitution, for freedom of expression,” it recounted.

After concluding that the administration’s action was “abuse of administrative power and an insult to the Lotha community”, it stated, the Lotha organisations were compelled to demand an apology from the deputy commissioner (DC) ‘through the local print media’.

On November 3 last, the organisations met the DC at his office and submitted a memorandum asking for an explanation as well as apology within five days. However, according to the statement, the DC “verbally lamented and requested the organisations to settle the issue amicably in the name of Tokhu Emong” and also on account of his imminent transfer out of Wokha.

“The Lotha organisations therefore took cognisance of his verbal apology and since he is also going on transfer, agreed that the apology through print media may not be insisted from him.

“However the issue of unprovoked imposition of CrPC 144, remains an issue with the District administration, Wokha, since the same brutal prohibitory CrPC 144 was also imposed by the same administration, for launching the controversial MOGPL at Tssori- Champang Oil fields, on the 21st July 2014, against the rights and wishes of the land owners and against Article 371A of the Indian Constitution. The Lotha organisations will therefore not allow any such abuse of administrative power in future,” it warned.