ACAUT dismayed by election violence

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 22 (MExN): `ACAUT Nagaland today expressed concern at poll related violence and assassination attempts and mal- practices which are "in direct contravention to the NBCC’s Call for clean election and the democratic process of the country.”  

A press note from ACAUT Chairman, Tia Longchar, and member, Simon Kelio, said that the organization was “shocked and greatly saddened at the loss of a life at Tuli, near 19th mile, Mokokchung district in an election related incident.”  

Such incident, it noted, is “nothing but utter madness and Nagas ought to be ashamed of it.”  

ACAUT, in this connection, asked the administration to immediately enforce 144 CrPC in all sensitive areas.  

ACAUT also condemned village councils that have declared village candidates and the alleged involvement of certain NNPGs in "forcefully dictating village councils to declare village candidates.” It asked the Naga national political groups to ensure that no rank and file violate their standing Azha.  

ACAUT further urged the administration and ECI to reinforce security in those villages that have declared Village candidates. The administration, it added, “should have no difficulty to act upon these village councils who have declared publically to endorse certain candidates.”  

Meanwhile, ACAUT Nagaland appealed to all voters to “heed to their good conscience during this election.”