Principal Correspondent
Kohima, March 26
At least four persons, all civilians including three females and a nine months old boy were injured as unknown miscreants reportedly hurled a crude bomb into a shop at PWD junction, Wokha today.
Wokha police sources said that the blast occurred at a general store at around 9:30 am, wherein the shop owner identified as Benchilo (46) along with two customers Thsano (58), Leena (29) and her nine months old son Yanrenthung sustained severe splinter injuries.
All the injured have been brought to Kohima by road and undergoing treatment at NHAK as no proper facilities are available at Wokha district civil hospital, sources said.
Suspecting that the bomb was hurled by some miscreants, Wokha police has however appealed the general public not to panic but maintain peace and extend cooperative to the investigating agency to find out the culprits. Police also asserted that all security measures have been beefed up to avoid recurrence of such incident in the future.
Meanwhile, various frontal organizations of Wokha district today decided to hold a public rally on March 27 beginning 9am at Police Point for submission of memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland through the Deputy Commissioner, Wokha.
The decision was arrived at during an emergency meeting held at Lotha Tribal Council Hall meeting of the following frontal organisations of the district: Lotha Hoho, Lotha Youth Hoho, Kyong Eloe Hoho, Wokha District Chamber of Commerce & Industry, All Commercial Vehicles Association, ACAUT Wokha unit, Wokha Bar Association, Wokha Circle Students Union, Wokha Town Colonies union, Wokha Town GBs Union, Team metamorphosis, Kyong Youth Initiative, Wokha District Entrepreneur Association, Wokha District Village Council Chairman Association and Kyong Students’ Union.
The house after thorough deliberation on the two blasts (February 24 last and today) that have taken place at Wokha within this short period of time, decided to conduct the public rally, while all business establishments have been asked to remain closed till the rally is over.
Meanwhile, Lotha Hoho vice president Mhonlumo Odyuo has appealed to all peace loving citizens to remain calm and called upon the perpetrators to desist from such inhuman activities.
Home Minister Patton condemns
Home Minister, Y.Patton has strongly condemned the two bomb blasts that took place at Dimapur on March 25 evening and another early this morning at PWD Junction, at the heart of the Wokha town.
Both the bomb blasts occurred in the thickly populated areas. There was no casualty in Dimapur blast. However, bomb explosion at Wokha inflicted serious injuries to three women and one nine-month old baby boy.
“It is very unfortunate that when the Naga people and various agencies have been making their concerted efforts to see that the Naga peace process reaches its logical conclusion, there are still some elements hell-bent on creating confusion and disturbances in the society,” Patton said in a statement.
The Home Minister also strongly condemned the ambush on the Assam Rifles jawans by some unidentified miscreants near IG Stadium, Kohima this morning causing injuries to four jawans.
Urging all sensible people to condemn cowardly and dastardly acts of terrorism, he said, violence has no place in a civilized society and it can never be the means to bring peace and solution.
“The Nagas have been suffering enough and time has come to reason together in finding a permanent and lasting peace in our land. “
He said the state government will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to see that peace and tranquility is not disturbed in the state.
Patton also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured Assam Rifles jawans and also those three bomb victims who are now under treatments at Naga Hospital, Kohima and other one at District Hospital, Wokha.
Senior BJP MLA, Dr. TM Lotha has expressed shock at the explosion of powerful bomb at PWD Junction, Wokha town this morning and urged the state government to constitute a High Power Committee (HPC) to thoroughly investigate into the incident and to bring those responsible to book.
Dr.Lotha strongly condemned the violence which has caused serious injuries to three women and one nine-month-old baby boy, saying it has no place in a civilized society which is dastardly and cowardly act of terrorism.
“It is very unfortunate that such incidents had been taking place in Wokha Town including the recent one on February 24.”
Dr. Lotha in a statement urged the district administration and law enforcement agencies to ever remain alert, so that such unwanted incidents do not occur again at Wokha town. The BJP MLA also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and requested the chief minister to pay ex-gratia to the bomb victims who have been undergoing treatments at Naga Hospital, Kohima and District Hospital, Wokha.
