EMN
Dimapur, August 7
A community organization in Dimapur has expressed shock at what they said was the emergence of ‘hit-men’ in Nagaland who even take lives to make money. The Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) issued a press release on Friday, August 7, urging civilized and law-loving citizens to stand up against crime and criminal elements.
The forum was making the statement in the backdrop of the recent killing of a Dimapur-based businessman Ashish Saha who was shot dead by a cadre of the GPRN/NSCN faction. Police said that the cadre, one Akato Chishi, was working in connivance with the victim’s wife to eliminate him stemming from a family ‘feud’ and dispute over properties.
The forum appreciated the Dimapur police “for the prompt action in arresting the culprits involved” in the killing of Saha.
“It is shocking for us to learn the emergence of ‘hit-man’ like people who even went to the extent of killing Mr. Ashish Saha. We denounce the existence of such people with criminal intent and greed in our society,” the forum stated in the press release.
“We also appreciate the swift action of the GPRN/NSCN in terminating Akato Chishi, who was a major, from their organization. This action of the GPRN/NSCN will surely help in the investigation process.
This action of the NSCN/GPRN should be an example to all other NPGs not to shield any criminals in their fold,” the forum stated.
Expressing profound shock at having to learn about the involvement of the victims’ immediate family members, the forum denounced ‘all those who are involved’ in the plot and the action in committing the crime.
The forum has urged all right-thinking citizens to condemn such act of cowardice and not to give place to such people in the society. “Excommunication to such person(s) by the community to which they belong should serve as the best example to have a clean Dimapur,” the statement added.
Police updates on case
On Friday, August, the Dimapur police issued a press release stating to have made a major breakthrough in the investigations into the murder of Ashish Saha, who was shot dead on August 2 in Lhomithi colony of Dimapur.
“The investigation of the case began with enquiry into all possible angles. Inputs of family feud over properties and interferences by local elements were explored and accordingly, based on credible leads and much effort, one Tokishe Sema ,S/o late Nixuvi of Aghunato and present resident of Ekranipathar, Dimapur was arrested on 04.08.2015,” the press release from the police stated.
Interrogation of the arrested person and forensic analysis of material evidences revealed startling clues of the involvement of the family members of the deceased victim in the crime and involved aspects of payments for the crime to be executed, the police said.
The account from the police stated:
“Investigation revealed that Suparna Saha, the daughter of the deceased victim along with other family members conspired with Tokishe Sema in the commission of the murder of the victim. Prior to the murder, the family members had approached Tokishe Sema to intervene into the family feud arising out of strained relations and property disputes,” the police said.
“The victim was summoned on various occasion by Tokishe Sema with the last meeting being on 24.07.2015. Meanwhile, the daughter and other family members were discreetly hatching plans to have the victim killed and were negotiating to this ends. They were providing all possible information of the victim including details of his movements, change of mobile number, photographs, etc.”
“Interrogation of the daughter of the victim revealed that Tokishe Sema demanded a certain sum of money from the family members, the amount of which was supposedly meant to be paid to those who were to execute the crime.
Corroborating to these statements were the extracts from forensics analysis of material evidences that included conversation between the accused parties regarding mentions of offers to make payments and also possible ownership transfer of certain properties of the victim once the crime was executed”.
“Tokishe Sema revealed that, during the last meeting with the victim, he had directed the latter to come again the following Monday on 27.07.2015. The victim, however , failed to appear and thereafter, another accused person , Akato Chishi,S/o Hoito of Ghathashi village and present resident of 4th Mile, Dimapur was instructed by Tokishe Sema to locate the victim. On 02.08.15, Akato Chishi along with another accomplice located the victim and shot him at point blank range at Saam Bazaar, Lhomithi Colony”.
According to the police, Suparna Saha, the daughter; Aparna Saha, the wife; Santanu Saha, the son of the deceased victim were all arrested on 06.08.2015.
Akato Chishi was arrested on the same day following his handing over to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group & Supervisory Board by the GPRN /NSCN.
“Akato Chishi was reportedly a ‘Major’ of the GPRN/NSCN and terminated from the organization for the crime committed and subsequent handing over to the authorities. The Maruti car used in the commission of the crime has also been recovered and seized,” the police said.
“Investigation into the case is to further go on and more arrests are likely to be made. Further information cannot be revealed at this juncture in the interest of the case investigation,” the press release added.
