Kiphire: No fresh violence reported

Govt’s goodwill mission to reach on Friday

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 4

The Nagaland state Home Minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu informed on Thursday at Kohima that the state government has decided to send a “goodwill mission” to Kiphire comprising Sumis and Sangtams as members. The mission will be reaching Kiphire on Friday and hold dialogue over the issue, the Minister said.  

As regards the ground situation, the Kiphire police stated that the situation is under control with security personnel maintaining close watch.  

The IGP (Range) Wabang Jamir informed that no fresh violence was reported from Sitimi today. The IGP said that in addition to the district police, 5 companies of the NAP (IR) alongwith Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in Sitimi and Kiphire district headquarters.    

DKSSU, WSSU call for dialogue, peace mission

Meanwhile, the Dimapur-Kohima Sangtam Students' Union (DKSSU) and Western Sumi Students' Union (WSSU) have appealed the people of Kiphire for composure in the backdrop of unrest in the Sitimi area of the district. The affected areas are about two hours drive from the district headquarters.  

The two student bodies met on January 4 in Dimapur to discuss and help defuse the current unrest. In a joint media statement, the DKSSU and WSSU said it was “resolved to appeal the Sangtam and Sumi (communities) of Kiphire District in particular, and within Nagaland state in general, to settle the matter at the earliest through open dialogue to promote brotherhood among the two tribes within and outside the district.”  

On the same note, it urged the civil society to initiate peace mission to help bring the two tribes together and resolve the problem at the earliest.  

With the annual state HSLC/HSSLC final examinations looming, it stated that it would be in the interest of the student community to restore peace as students are going to appear their final examinations soon.  

It also appealed the people to refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated reports “without knowing/ observing the reality” through the use of social media.  

The DKSSU and WSSU as student bodies “look forward for early solution for the betterment of the younger generation in particular and society in general,” the statement said.