Dimapur, March 23 (EMN): The Nagaland government, the state’s opposition, and civic groups have lashed out strongly—at least in their statements—at the spate of criminal activities in the state, including the killing of a government worker.
The deputy chief minister of Nagaland Y Patton issued a statement on Friday condemning the criminal activities. In his statement, Patton stated that the two individuals who allegedly murdered one Lunkholal Singson in Zunheboto had been identified as one Puloka Awomi and a Vikato Shohe. The minister informed that the two have been arrested and that the authorities would take action.
The deputy chief minister expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
Also, Patton denounced the shooting of a businessman Joy Chandra March 22 and businesswomen Rekha Das on the 23rd in Dimapur. The minister assured that investigations into both the incident were being undertaken by the district’s police and that the authorities were on a manhunt to find the perpetrators.
Patton has urged the state’s police and the district administration to be vigilant ‘to ensure peace in the state.’
NPF tells govt. to act firm and fast
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Friday expressed dismay at what it called lawlessness in the state. The party was referring to the recent incidences of killing and shooting. The opposition has demanded that the state ‘put its foot down and bring the culprits to book without any delay.’
The press release from the NPF’s press bureau listed out the offences: the killing of a government employee identified as one Lunkholal Singsong in Zunheboto district on March 17; the shooting of Joy Chandra, a businessman on March 22 and, another, the shooting of Rekha Das, a shopkeeper, on March 23, also in Dimapur.
The bids on the life of the people in the commercial capital of the state in a span of 24 hours have created fear psychosis in the minds of the business community, the NPF stated. The party asserted that the shootings could be either due to ‘business rivalry’ or ‘extortion’ by ‘undesirable elements’ with the latter being ‘more likely.’
“The government of the day should immediately put its foot down and bring the culprits to book without any delay lest it, the government, be construed to have ushered in a change for the worse in the society,” the NPF remarked.
Further, the party stated that the Naga underground groups should “rein in their erring cadres” involved in such ‘lawlessness.’
The efforts of the Naga people to bring about a ‘final solution’ to the Naga political problem shall go in vain in the face of ‘such violent atrocities,’ the NPF added.
Civil Society want authorities to hunt down perpetrators
A number of organisations in Dimapur has condemned the shooting of two citizens by unknown gunmen in Dimapur.
DDCF
The Dimapur District Citizens Forum, the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Nagaland Peoples Front’s minority wing, and the Midland Colony Dimapur all decried the criminal activities. They have demanded that the public condemn ‘such acts of barbarism in the greatest degree.’
The organisations had a common refrain in their statements: the crimes have created fear psychosis in the minds of peace-loving citizens.
The law enforcing agencies are urged to act swiftly and hunt down the perpetrators at the earliest. Such an enforcement action will restore confidence in the minds of the citizens, the community groups stated.
The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has expressed shock at the ‘cold blood murder’ of an employee of the department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry identified as Lunkholal Singson. A press release from the council media cell on Friday.
The ‘barbaric action’ of the criminals deserve the ‘highest order of condemnation’ by all citizens it stated. ‘Such heinous crime in our society is alarming and the law enforcing agencies should punish the culprits responsible for the said offence at the earliest,’ the NTC stated.The organisation has appreciated the prompt action of civil organizations in working to arrest the culprits, the press release added.
The Nagaland Veterinary Field Assistants Association also condemned the ‘cold blooded, brutal and barbaric murder’ of its member Lunkholal Singson on March 17. The group issued a note on Friday.
The association demanded that the law enforcing agencies ‘rigidly punish’ the culprits according to the law and with ‘non-bailable imprisonment.’
The Kuki Nute Kiloikhom of Nagaland (KNKN) has condemned the ‘most abhorable’ murder of Singson. The organisation issued a press release on Friday.
The KNKN has called upon all ‘right thinking mothers’ to stand united in denouncing crime and join in efforts to building a ‘safer Nagaland.’ It has appealed to the authorities to punish the culprits ‘that such act of merciless killing of innocent people doesn’t occur in the society in future.’
The organisation has also demanded that the government of Nagaland compensate as the deceased was of the sole bread-earner of the bereaved family. The group has demanded a government job to the wife of Lunkholal Singson on humanitarian grounds.
The KNKN has expressed gratitude to community organisations and the police administration in locating the dead body, and apprehending the culprits besides showing solidarity in condemning the crime.
