The abduction of an oil tanker driver and his assistant in Tuensang district has made headlines the last three days although the abduction took place on April 22. It took the state government almost nine days to act, but only a day after the shutdown of fuel outlets in the state. This time round there is no benefit of doubt for the authorities both in the districts as well as the state.
Although the first shutdown in the four districts—Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Longleng, and Tuensang started as early as April 26, the news made it to the headlines only after the state-wide total shutdown started on April 30. Many feared about the lives of the victims since more than a week had passed after the abduction. Fortunately, for all concerned the victims were finally handed over to the authorities, alive and in sound health on May 3. The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) was instrumental in securing the release of the two abducted.
Even after 11 days the public is still unaware of those responsible for the abduction whether it was by some dacoits or by some of the Naga political groups. No one has owned up the responsibility yet.
The case would never have made it to the newspapers unless the main fuel distributor at Mokokchung town for the four districts of Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Longleng and Tuensang had started the closure of fuel outlets in these districts as early as April 26. The government’s publicity wing especially in the remote districts also has a duty to report such events and not only the PR publications.
Criminal cases especially during investigations do not fall under the purview of the RTI Act in Nagaland. The reason why the district police has a PRO these days to give out information on a need-to-know basis. However, it turns out that in this case the police and the authorities were helpless as they had to take the help of ENPO to secure the release of those abducted.
Such delays and reactions only embolden wrong doers to repeat such crimes. Incidences like the present one just might go unnoticed in some other big populous state in India. However Nagaland is a small state and it is only recently that the people, especially the traders, have a sense of security in doing business in Nagaland. The authorities and the tribe organisations should make an example out of such cases so that such incidences are not repeated.
