Pre-election violence in Longkhum village; 11 arrested

Our Correspondent Mokokchung, Feb. 10 (EMN): Eleven persons were arrested as rival party supporters clashed at Longkhum village in 28th Koridang assembly constituency of Mokokchung district on the night of Feb. 9, barely three weeks ahead of the assembly elections in Nagaland. Supporters of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidates in Longkhum village reportedly engaged in pelting stones at one another and used catapults during a fight for dominance over ‘a campaigning area’ on Fri. night. Official sources said that after the NDPP candidate had declared his candidature at the village, a tense situation flared up in the evening between the rival parties. The minister of Health and Family Welfare Imkong L Imchen is the NPF candidate from said constituency while the NDPP is represented by C Lima Imchen. Police sources reported that the first clash between the rival parties started around 4.30 pm in the evening. However, a team of riot police defused the situation, it was informed. But again, tension flared up again some hours later at a different location which was brought under control by the police. Police said that a third clash started around 8.30 pm during which 11 people were arrested; an air pistol, 14 live .22 rounds and a crude country-made bomb were seized from their possession, it was informed. A complaint has been lodged with police station-II. The arrested persons have been produced before the court. The district administration had also imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 in Longkhum village during the previous night. Additional forces from the Nagaland police and CRPF are said to have been deployed to maintain law and order in the village.