Dimapur, March 10 (EMN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has strongly condemned an incident in Mokokchung during which, reportedly, an elderly woman was interrogated, assaulted and ‘brutalised’ by a group of men from Changki village in Mokokchung district.
The reason for the assault was reportedly because she had exercised her right to franchise and voted against an unlawfully declared candidate.
The ACAUT issued a press release, appended by its public liaison convenor Simon Kelio and chairman Tia Longchar, on Friday. The organisation stated that the perpetrators of the crime committed a gross human rights violation and tarnished the image of the village’s council.
Considering the magnitude of the crime, the organisation has urged law enforcing agencies to deliver justice to the victim.
Also making reference to a video which was circulated on social media showing a group of men from Mongsenyimti village intimidating women and preventing them from going to their polling station, the ACAUT stated that such activities had made a mockery of free and fair elections mandated by the Election Commission of India.
While condemning the malpractice committed by individuals and groups during the election in Nagaland, the ACAUT said it was simply not acceptable when prestigious and revered institutions like village councils—who are supposed to be watchdogs against ‘transgression’—were the ones who were the biggest violators of justice.
The ACAUT has questioned as to how the Changki village council was able to ‘know’ when voting was supposed to be done secretly. It also questioned how a group of men were able to prevent the women from voting in Mongsenyimti village despite imposition of 144Crpc in Mokokchung.
The organisation expressed resentment at the ‘actions of a few greedy village council members’ who went as far as to declare ‘village candidates’; they have tarnished the once-revered and respected village councils by allowing themselves to be misused by politicians and succumbing to partisan politics, the organisation stated.
The ACAUT has expressed firm belief that if Nagaland has to move forward at par with the rest of the world, it must begin with changes at the grass-root i.e., from the village level. It has urged the state’s government to bring about a uniform civil code in village council institutions in the spirit of modern democracy.
The organisation has lauded Mokokchung’s deputy commissioner, Sachin Jaiswal, for his prompt action on the matter. The statement has appealed to the district’s administration and law enforcers to leave no stone unturned in prosecuting the perpetrators and to ensure that justice is upheld.
