Dimapur, May 31 : The Thilixu Village organizations have given a stipulated time of 48-hour ultimatum to the district administration to arrest the three people Kughaho Chophy, Khekiye Chophy and Tokiho Chophy with non-bailable warrants for their unlawful involvement and creating fear among the residentss of Thilixu village.
Aggrieved by what they called as the ignorant attitude of the East Police Station Dimapur to FIRs lodged by Thilixu Village Council on May 16 and 28, against the three brothers Kughaho Chophy, Khekiye Chophy and Tokiho Chophy, mass-based organizations under Thilixu village took their grievances to Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Dimapur on Tuesday morning.
The Thilixu Village organizations today led a silent procession as a mark of protest against the authorities concerned for what they said was “inviting favoritism in a civilized society”. This, they stated, was ‘unjustified’.
A joint memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur stated that according to the FIR lodged on May 16 last, against the accused Kughaho Chophy and Khekiye Chophy for creating public disturbance by physically assaulting innocent public and firing several rounds of gun and threatening public with lethal weapon, they were duly booked under No 140/2016 under section 290/427/324/34 IPC register with 27 Arms Act. On 28 May last, the elder brother of both Kughaho and Khekiye was arrested for attempted murder on Thilixu Village GB Tokishe Achumi, the memorandum stated.
It was appended by Thilixu Village Head GB, Hekuto Kiba, Thilixu Village Council Chairman, Nikhevi Yeptho, Sümi Totimi Hoho Thilixu President, Vishili Zhimo, Thilixu Village Students Union President, Tovitio Chishi and Thilixu Youth Organization President, Hebonto Zhimo.
The three accused persons, it stated, were arrested on non-bailable warrants. However, when the village authority inquired about the FIR on Sunday, May 29 last, they were informed by the police that the accused persons have been forwarded to judicial custody.
The village organizations questioned how the accused persons could be forwarded to the court on Sunday when it is a ‘no working day.’ It reminded that the police cannot fool the village authority.
The Thilixu village organizations stated that the culprits should be punished as per the provision of law within 48 hours from the time of submission of the memorandum. Failing to do so, it stated, the organizations should be at liberty to pursue the culprits as per the Sümi customary law following which if any untoward incident occurs, the organizations of Thilixu village would not be held responsible.
The memorandum, according to the organizations, has been submitted in the backdrop of police “inaction”. According to the memorandum, the May 28 incident was the fallout of an incident which occurred on May 16. It may be noted that Kughaho Chophy is a teacher attached to SDEO Office Dimapur and Tokiho Chophy is a Junior Engineer employed by the State Department of Rural Department.
The Highway Area Sumi Public Organisation (HASPO), in a press release, has vehemently condemned the attempt made on the life of Tokishe Achumi, GB of Thilixu Village on May 28. “Barging into the residence of the GB at night or for that matter into any other citizen’s residence with weapons is a serious offence that can never be justified whatsoever. We stand in solidarity with Tokishe Achumi who is also our Treasurer (HASPO),” it stated.
It called for stern action from the district administration. “…the culprits who if unpunished will be emboldened to commit more serious offences in the future,” it stated.
In a separate statement, the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) also expressed condemnation of the incident. It informed that the WSH has resolved to initiate and execute appropriate action against the culprit according to Sumi customary laws and practices.
