DIMAPUR, MAY 29 : A Junior Engineer, Tokiho Chopy, employed by the state’s department of Rural Development was on Saturday night arrested for an alleged murder attempt on Tokishe Achumi, who is gaun bura at Thilixu Village Block III.
This incident comes close in the heels of the May 16 incident at Thilixu village where miscreants numbering around 30 – marshaled by their ring leaders Kughaho Chophy and his brother Khekiye Chophy – created uproar during the launch of Thilixu Village Block III daily market. The arrested engineer is a sibling of the two brothers involved in the earlier incident.
According to an FIR lodged by Tokishe Achumi, the accused with “his gang members” descended upon his house “fully prepared with two guns and swords” and started “smashing (the) tables and chairs”. Reportedly the accused person’s sister also arrived at the scene, “requesting” Achumi not to retaliate since her brother was “in an inebriated condition with guns and swords.”
In the FIR, Achumi has quoted the sister as saying that her brother intended to kill him. He has also stated that the accused started abusing and harassing his family members, and destroyed the flower plantations with his sword.
The chairman of Thilixu Village Council (TVC), Nikhevi Yeptho told reporters that the incident on Saturday occurred at around 8.30 pm. He said that since 2009, the brothers involved in the incidents have been attempting to acquire recognition of Thilixu Block III as a new village.
This however has been rejected by the TVC, according to the chairman. Since then, the brothers have been resorting to such violence in their attempt to establish a new village “which is in their personal interest”, he said.
The general secretary of Sümi Totimi Hoho, Thilixu village, Ashibo also said that the matter was of serious nature as it was a “repeated offence.” While calling for transparency from the authorities dealing with the issue, she reminded that the outcome of the FIR should not be in the form of the culprit walking out free.
Meanwhile the TVC, STH Thilixu, Youth Organization Thilixu and Students Union Thilixu have all condemned “such ignorant actions from a responsible government servant” and have requested the department concerned to initiate necessary measures while the accused is in police custody.
