Dimapur, Dec. 14: Against the state government’s refusal to release the 3 ACAUT members who were arrested on December 12 last, ACAUT Nagaland has called for a public rally on Thursday at NRL gas station near Clock Tower, at 1 pm.
Since Tuesday afternoon, ACAUT Nagaland has turned the NRL gas station into their site of protest after they were denied stage at the Clock Tower. To protest the arrests of Joel Nillo Kath, Simon Kelio and Hukiye Yepthomi, ACAUT members have been running a signature campaign at NRL gas station.
On Tuesday evening, the ‘civil societies’ of Dimapur had served state government with a 24-hour ultimatum to release the 3 arrested ACAUT members. After the expiry of the deadline, ACAUT members announced at the site of protest – NRL gas station – that it has called for a public rally on Thursday.
The public rally, however, is simply one-half of ACAUT’s attempt at the classic two-card trick. Even as the protest was going on, some members of ACAUT on Wednesday morning visited the home of RZ Lotha – the complainant in the FIR that led to the arrest of ACAUT members – to convince him to withdraw the FIR.s
Sources however said that Lotha, as well as his wife, was not home when ACAUT members arrived. The ACAUT members met with Lotha’s son and shared their purpose of visit – to reason with the complainant to withdraw the FIR.
Even after the announcement of the public rally was made in the evening on Wednesday, ACAUT members were requesting the members of Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation (DUCCF) to visit Lotha’s home again and try convincing the family to withdraw the FIR.
It was also learnt that the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur had convened a meeting among DUCCF, the Joint Action Committee of 13 colonies/villages, officials from Food and Civil Supplies, Dimapur police and GBs union on Wednesday.
[caption id="attachment_88515" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Members of ACAUT Nagaland during their protest at NRL petrol station, City Tower, Dimapur on Wednesday.[/caption]
During the meeting all parties concerned were allowed to share their views, as well as their clarifications, it was informed. But, according to the president of DUCCF, Tsenthungo Lotha, “some gray areas still remain”.
Compared to Tuesday, the turnout at the ACAUT protest site at NRL gas station on Wednesday was much more, bolstered by the arrival of a group of women. It was informed that the police, once again, tried to prevent the protestors from putting up banners on Wednesday morning.
But, as was the case on Tuesday, women were at the forefront again while insisting that they were within their rights to use the banners. Barring the initial skirmish, the protest was peaceful throughout the day.
Also, all businesses remained closed till 4 pm in response to the call made by the ‘civil societies’ of Dimapur to protest the arrest of 3 ACAUT leaders.
The ACAUT Nagaland has expressed appreciation to Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) for successfully and peacefully implementing the bandh on Wednesday. The bandh was called on account of illegal detention of the three ACAUT members and failure of the government to take cognizance of the first FIR filed by the JAC comprising 13 villages to arrest the criminals involved in the PDS scam, media cell, ACAUT said in a release on Wednesday.
On the Signature Campaign by ACAUT Nagaland at City Tower, the release said, approximately 15,000 signatures were appended. ACAUT Nagaland said it was humbled by the support and concern shown by the people from all walks of life.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the Government of Nagaland would not listen to the appeals of the general public and still detain three innocent public on flimsy and baseless accusation,” the ACAUT said. Therefore, the release said, ACAUT Nagaland and frontal organisations of Dimapur have decided to hold a peaceful public awareness and rally at NRL petrol pump premises, near City Tower, Dimapur at 1 pm on December 15 against the “gross mismanagement and corruption in the state”.
The ACAUT has also fervently appealed to all right thinking citizens to come and participate at the rally.
“The Government of Nagaland is hell bent on sabotaging any initiative against the rampant corruption. It is the opinion of ACAUT Nagaland that a time for change is upon us. Therefore all organisations, colony councils, GBs, women organisations, mothers, churches, student bodies and most importantly people from every walk of life to come together and say No To Corruption, corruption has become a part of Naga culture and unless a concerted effort and corrective measure is taken by all, it will smother the Naga society destroying our future generation,” the release said.
The Concerned Citizens of Nagaland Dimapur Nagaland has urged all the churches, organisations and individuals who are concerned about the land and the future of the Nagas to come forward with prayers to the much needed peace rally called by ACAUT Nagaland and the frontal organisations of Dimapur near City Tower at 1 pm to express solidarity to the three ACAUT leaders who are still in jail since December 12 for reporting an illegal activity.
The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation has appealed to all general public from all walks, irrespective of community and tribes, to come and support the mass based peaceful public rally against corruption at NRL petrol pump near City Tower at 1pm on December 15.
