[caption id="attachment_137195" align="alignleft" width="396"]
An angry mob demanding to 'see' the persons accused in the murder of a taxi driver seen here storming south police station in Kohima. The police have said that the accused persons were habitual offenders.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 6 (EMN): Following the arrest of the alleged main accused in the September 2 killing of a taxi driver and subsequent detainment of two more persons this morning in Kohima in connection with the case, an irate mob on Wednesday stormed the capital town’s South Police Station (PS) demanding to ‘see the prisoners.’
Initially, taxi drivers under the banner of the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) had gathered at the Raj Bhavan junction, angered by what they stated the police ‘giving contradicting information’ about the whereabouts of the three accused persons. They claimed that while some police officials said that the accused had been taken down to Dimapur Central Jail, some reportedly said they were being held in Kohima.
Taxi services in Kohima came to a halt as the crowd grew and turned into an angry mob. They later marched to South PS.
The police cordoned off the entry to the police station. The officer-in-charge tried to reason with the crowd. He explained that two more accused were apprehended this morning by Kohima police, but the investigation would be conducted by Chiephobozou police as the ‘main case was filed in Chiephobozou PS.’ However, the crowd ignored the explanation and insisted on ‘seeing’ the three accused.
By late afternoon, relatives of the victim along with youths of their community joined the crowd and the number swelled to several hundreds. The mob then forced their way through the gate of the police station and stormed into the building while the clearly outnumbered police stood and watched helplessly.
After failing to locate the accused in the police station’s lock-up, the crowd regrouped outside the PS building, but officials of the ANTA, Chakhesang community and the victim’s family members who held a swift meeting with the sub-divisional police officer (south) and other police officers at the police station managed to pacify the crowd and dispersed them.
The ANTA’s President Vibasetuo Solo and SDPO (south) Atu Zumvu informed separately that the protesters had served 1a 4-point demand: to provide ex-gratia to the family of the victim; not to grant bail to any of the accused under any circumstances; capital punishment for the culprits, and a fast track investigation.
It was also informed that the ANTA will have an ‘open meeting’ near the Raj Bhavan on Thursday at 9 am where the decision for its next step of agitations will be discussed and finalized.
All three accused are habitual offenders, says police
Kohima police on Wednesday issued a press release stating that the three persons arrested in connection with the murder of Kohima-based taxi driver Swüdüve Nakro were found to be habitual offenders.
Summarizing the findings of the case, police said one of the accused, identified as Toishe Aye (28) of Zhekiye village and resident of ‘A’ Khel colony in Satakha town under Zunheboto district was caught along with the victim’s missing taxi by Satakha police on September 4 and were subsequently handed over to Kohima police.
Following this, Kohima police apprehended two more accused of the case, namely, Daniel Yimchunger (31) of Mukanchim village (not recognised) under Peren district and a resident of Supply Colony in Kohima’s PR Hill colony, and Avito Zhotso (41) of Jakhama village and a resident of Upper PR Hill Kohima.
According to the police, during the house search of accused Daniel Yimchunger, ‘83 Nos of blank demand notes of vehicle Tax (2017-2018) issued by the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland, NSCN/GPRN (K), 3 Nos of detached blank information slips for union traders and contractors (yearly tax of 2017- 2018) issued by Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland, NSCN/GPRN (K)’ were recovered and seized. Also, one Maruti Alto 800 (white) bearing registration number NL01H/9287 belonging to the third accused, Avito, which was used for proceeding to Satakha on September 2 last and returning back to Kohima on September 3 was also seized.
According to the initial statement given to the police by the three arrested persons, Toishe and Daniel stated to have connived and hired the said local taxi from PHQ Point Kohima at around 8 pm on September 2 on the pretext of proceeding to Wokha. After reaching Zhievüzie at Chiechama village, the two accused reportedly asked the taxi driver to stop, at which point, Toishe took out a pistol to threaten Nakro. A scuffle was said to have followed, wherein the other accused, Daniel, hit the taxi driver on the head with a club of bamboo root, simultaneously resulting in the death of the latter. After dumping the dead body below a marketing shed, the culprits reportedly proceeded to Tseminyu and from there, Daniel called Avito, who was in Kohima.
When he (Avito) arrived at Tseminyu, the three of them stated to proceed to Satakha where accused Toishe stayed back with the victim’s taxi while the other two returned to Kohima on September 3.
“The two accused Toishe Aye and accused Daniel Yimchunger have voluntarily admitted before the police to have committed the murder with the motive to steal the local taxi and make easy money.
As per the police records, accused Toishe Aye who is a Captain of NSCN (K) is already found involved in Police Case for two counts of crime, once in 2008 at Mokokchung for illegal possession of arms and the other at South P.S Kohima in the year 2013 for extortion. The other accused Daniel Yimchunger who is a 2nd Lieutenant of NSCN(K) is also found to be involved in three count of crimes at South P.S Kohima in connection with extortion and illegal possession of firearms in the year 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.
“The third accused Avito Zhotso is also found involved in South P.S Kohima case for three counts of crime committed in the year 2011,2012 and 2015 relating to extortion, theft and robbery,” the police release stated. The trio were said to have been produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kohima today and they are remanded into police custody for conduct of thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, Kohima police has assured that ‘all possible efforts’ will be made to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted and charges are filed against the culprits appropriately.
[caption id="attachment_137196" align="alignnone" width="300"]
An angry mob demanding to 'see' the persons accused in the murder of a taxi driver seen here storming south police station in Kohima. The police have said that the accused persons were habitual offenders.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_137196" align="alignnone" width="300"]
An angry mob demanding to 'see' the persons accused in the murder of a taxi driver seen here storming south police station in Kohima. The police have said that the accused persons were habitual offenders.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_137196" align="alignnone" width="300"]
An angry mob demanding to 'see' the persons accused in the murder of a taxi driver seen here storming south police station in Kohima. The police have said that the accused persons were habitual offenders.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_137196" align="alignnone" width="300"]
An angry mob demanding to 'see' the persons accused in the murder of a taxi driver seen here storming south police station in Kohima. The police have said that the accused persons were habitual offenders.[/caption]
