Taxi snatched at gunpoint in Kohima district

KOHIMA — In a robbery incident that took place on the evening of July 21, a local taxi bearing registration number NL01T-A0183 was snatched at gunpoint below Viswema village, between Viswema and Kidima in Kohima district, around 4 pm to 4:30 pm.

The victim driver, a non-Naga, recounted his ordeal to the media on Wednesday. He said his taxi was hired and taken below Viswema to a river via Zero Point Chakhabama, where one of the three miscreants seized him by the neck and pulled him out of the vehicle.

The victim stated that one of the miscreants started the vehicle, while another held a gun on him, forced him down, and escaped with the taxi. The owner of the taxi was a local.

He stated that he would be able to recognise the faces of the miscreants if he sees them again, who are mostly in their 30s, and added that they took the route via BSF Camp towards Zero Point Chakhabama as the road was closed that day.

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The taxi driver also recalled that cash amounting to about INR 4,000 in his purse was stolen, and his purse, which contained his identity cards, driving licence, and other items, was discarded at the scene. He then walked to the road, got a lift from a truck carrying chicken (poultry), and returned to Kohima.

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A First Information Report (FIR) was filed on the same day at the North Police Station (PS), Kohima, and sources from the police have confirmed to Eastern Mirror that investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Victor Rutsa, assistant treasurer of the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA), expressed concern about the incident of theft and robbery involving an ANTA member.

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He informed that the association is in contact with the police and added that it expects cooperation from everyone. He urged anyone who sees the taxi NL01T-A0183 to inform the ANTA office or the police to help resolve the case as soon as possible.

He demanded that the culprits be arrested and punished while condemning the act of threatening and using guns to carry out the robbery.

Dziesevituo Solo, president of ANTA HQ, Kohima, also condemned the incident on behalf of the association. He stated that such primitive acts of gun culture and robbery cannot be tolerated.

In a condemnation note, he appealed to law enforcement agencies and the concerned departments to promptly apprehend the culprits and ensure they receive appropriate punishment under the strictest sections of the law. He also affirmed the association’s commitment to peace and its motto, ‘Service to the Public’.

Furthermore, the ANTA assured to render its unflinching support and cooperation to the government agencies concerned in booking the culprits and shall leave no stone unturned for justice to be delivered.

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