In Flames: TR-Shurhozelie tussle goes the matchbox way

Our Correspondent Kohima, July 16 (EMN): Two cars, a Maruti 800 and a Maruti Omni van, were charred on a state highway in Kohima between High School junction and IG stadium Sunday evening, by unidentified miscreants. Although the police and fire services reported to have rushed to the spot, they were unable to find out details at the time of filing of this report as to why the cars were set on fire and by whom, it was widely interpreted as a move by irate supporters of chief minister Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu as several anti-TR Zeliang placards were reportedly found near the burnt vehicles. Zeliang recently led a dissidence in the NPF-led DAN with 43 MLAs siding with him, disputing Liezietsu’s leadership in a House of 59 elected members, and are currently camping in Hotel Vivor in Kohima. The vehicles were reportedly set on fire near the said hotel, which also incidentally comes under the 10th Northern Angami-I assembly constituency, the home turf of beleaguered chief minister Liezietsu. As per the fire station Kohima, the alert for the burning cars came in at around 7.35 pm and by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, the omni van bearing registration number NL 01H 2315 was completely burned down while the Maruti 800 bearing registration number NL 01H 3225 was partially burnt but nearby residents had brought the fire under control. Meanwhile, police sources say the incident is under investigation.