Terms reports ‘biased and prejudicial’
Wokha, October 8 (MExN): The PWD Colony, Wokha, has condemned, what it termed, “biased and prejudicial reports” that appeared in relation to an episode in its colony on October 3 that led to the injury of a child in conflict with law.
In that, the PWD Colony Council, the PWD Colony Youth Organisation and PWD Colony Eloe Hoho reiterated an “official circular” issued by the PWD Colony Council on August 5 this year, authorizing the youth organization and women’s organization of the colony to “investigate” matters of law and order, namely “issues of theft incidents and loss of domestic animals.”
This is “its civic responsibility cast upon it by the parent body in the interest of all the colony members,” noted the organizations.
In a press statement issued today—signed by R. Motsuthung Lotha, chairman of the PWD Colony Council, Nzanthung Ezung, president of the PWD Youth Organization and Sojano Lotha, president of the PWD Eloe Hoho—the three organizations gave their version of the incident. On October 3, stated the organizations, “The colony Youth body with the consent of the mother of the boy took him to the commercial building of Er. N. Sanchio Lotha (Kithan), at P.W.D., Colony, Wokha, at about 4 p.m. and informed Er. S. Benrio Kithan, son of Er. N. Sanchio.
Accordingly, Er. S. Benrio Kithan went to meet the colony Youth and the mother and son who were waiting.” The organizations alleged that the mother “told” the colony youth to “question him and went to the next house, while the colony youth took him for questioning. The sister of the boy was also in the next house of the place of occurrence. While the youth were asking question, all of a sudden, the boy ran and jumped from the roof top to the road below and got severely injured.”
Observing that the “unfortunate incident” was “blown out of proportion by one sided reports and burgeoning lies,” the organizations claimed that “the boy was not in school uniform, but was wearing T-shirt when the Youth interrogated him at about 4 p.m.”
It may be noted that according to eye witnesses, the minor still had his school pants and shoes on, along with his school bag, when he was taken for the colony ‘interrogation.’ The Lotha Students’ Union, the Lotha Eloe Hoho along with the All Nagaland Private Schools Association, Wokha, had stated that they will take out a silent procession on Monday, October 9, to protest the assault of the student.
The press statement, meanwhile, explained how after the fall, the youth body took the minor to District Hospital Wokha and then to Kohima. “The youth called the family members from the District Hospital Wokha, but they refused to turn up,” noted the organizations.
Earlier, the family had stated that they refused to intervene as it had already become a police case. The police, however, had taken a step back from the case after interrogating the minor on October 3 and establishing his innocence. This was stated by the SP Wokha on October 5.
However, an FIR has now been registered by the Wokha police regarding the assault with statement taken from the minor, informed chairperson of the Wokha Child Welfare Committee, who will now closely monitor the case.
The three organizations further stated in their press statement that “All the expenses were also taken care of by the Colony Youth” after they took him to Kohima for treatment.
The three PWD organizations found it “unfortunate” that “the apex organizations of the tribe without ascertaining from both sides start taking sides on hearsay of one side.” According to them, “This will embolden the younger generation and set bad precedence for others to follow same suit in committing offences.”
The organizations appealed to “all individuals and organizations not to jump to conclusion of any event without knowing the reality which can escalate the gravity of the situation.”
It may also be noted that reports of the episode were covered after speaking to eye witnesses, the Wokha police, one Wokha District Child Protection Officer, the assaulted child in conflict with law, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima and school authorities.
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