Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation withdrew FIR after repair assurance but warned against damaging public property.
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DIMAPUR — An FIR filed by the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) over the destruction of a public lane divider at the tri-junction of Duncan Bosti, Riverbelt colony and Fellowship colony was withdrawn after the accused assured to repair the damage, DUCCF officials said on Monday.
The FIR was lodged on February 15 at West Police Station against an individual for damaging public property.
DUCCF vice-president Tongzuk Pongen, briefing media persons at the site, said that the police acted swiftly and arrested the accused driver within 12 hours of the FIR.
According to Pongen, the vehicle involved was a government vehicle being driven by an unauthorised and “very young” individual, identified as the son of a government official.
Related: DUCCF condemns destruction of public property in Dimapur
Clarifying the withdrawal of the FIR, Pongen claimed that there was no pressure from any quarter and that the decision was taken only after the accused and his family assured to repair the damaged divider. He added that traffic police would still proceed as per law.
Warning against similar incidents, the DUCCF said that it would continue to file FIRs on the spot against anyone found damaging public property. “It is not only a moral duty but a constitutional responsibility of every citizen to protect public property,” Pongen said.
Stating that DUCCF oversees 97 colonies and 23 wards, he ruled out any possibility of compromise on such matters and urged citizens to refrain from using unauthorised vehicles.
He further said that the incident was not isolated, adding that several cases of lane dividers being damaged by reckless driving often go unreported.
He recalled that on September 5, 2025, a freshly repaired divider was damaged just nine hours after renovation by Team Better Dimapur.
Following the issue raised by DUCCF, Team Better Dimapur president Mhonjan Humtsoe said that the organisation had recorded over 25 such incidents along the Clock Tower–Khermahal stretch over the past three years and had repaired damaged dividers around 20 times using its own funds.
Responding to criticism over the quality of the dividers, Humtsoe said that even iron poles get damaged in high-speed crashes and concrete structures cannot be expected to withstand reckless driving.
He suggested improved street lighting, increased divider height and stricter checks on night-time speeding.
Humtsoe also said that for nearly a decade, the team has been watering plants across Dimapur town every first and second Sunday of the month at 11 pm when traffic is minimal. He added that the Forest department waters plants at the vertical garden near the Holy Cross School footbridge.
He informed that the team had submitted a proposal in November 2025 to the Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Zhaleo Rio, seeking assistance to ease the challenges of maintaining greenery in Dimapur and urged the government to consider the proposal.