Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 25
DIMAPUR’S busy traffic at least got a moment of relief between 9.30 am and 12 noon as auto rickshaw drivers and a few personnel of Dimapur Police exchanged blows today.
The reason why many auto rickshaws did not ply during the said hours was because the drivers were involved in the commotion between police personnel and auto drivers. According to some auto drivers, the fight started when one of the police personnel hit an auto driver at Burma Camp after his auto slightly touched one of the police vehicles. They said the involved police personnel did not pay heed to his (driver) excuses and went for hard hitting.
This compelled some other drivers and onlookers to interfere to know the reason. But to no avail. This provoked the other police personnel who were in the said vehicle to join the scene which got bitter within no time.
The auto drivers, who claimed that this was not the first such incidents, accused the police personnel of going beyond the line in exercising their vested ‘khaki uniform’ powers. The auto drivers justified their involvement in Wednesday’s commotion stating that it was the merciless police action which aggravated the fight to a mob-like situation.
Right after the first scene erupted at around 9.30 am, angry auto drivers (both Nagas and non Nagas) gathered in huge numbers to retaliate against police force. By 10.30 am, as many as over 100 drivers were seen gathered below the fly-over to retaliate anytime. The mob even chased away the regular police personnel at Railway gate, fly-over and adjacent areas.
While the conditions of police personnel were not known, several auto drivers who were involved in the commotion had injuries inflicted on their bodies, heads and legs. Around five of them reportedly got injured. One injured was reportedly taken to Dimapur District Civil Hospital and discharged after first aid.
Some of the injured persons were identified as Monjil (22), resident of Veterinary Colony, Dipander (23) of Purana Bazar, Nitoka Sumi (21) of Padumpukhuri and Lenki Pochury (24) of Chumukedima town.
The police claimed that the auto rickshaw hit one of the police personnel who was on duty.
Talking to this reporter, SDPO Dimapur said some previous confrontations between police personnel and the auto drivers might have aggravated the situation.
