• Oting interim report in 1-2 days
• Revised COVID SOP to be issued
• Discussions on boundary ongoing
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 7
The one-month deadline to complete the investigation into the December 4 Oting killings has lapsed already. Despite this, the State Government is yet to make an official announcement on the progress of the investigation.
Meanwhile, as per other sources, the investigation is reported to have been almost complete. According to an official government source, as on January 7, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was slated to submit an interim report to the state government in a day or two.
The Oting investigation formed part of a closed-door Cabinet seating chaired by the Chief Minister in Dimapur on January 7. As per the source, the SIT was awaiting ballistic and forensic reports. While stating that other aspects of the investigation like questioning and taking statements has been completed, the official added, “The interim report will be submitted in a day or two and other reports as and when it is received will be incorporated and again submitted.”
The SIT, comprising of 5 core members led by an IGP rank officer of the Nagaland Police, was instituted by the state government on December 5, with the ADGP (Law & Order) as the supervisory officer.
It was also learnt that the Cabinet deliberated on re-imposing stricter COVID-19 preventive protocol on account of the rising COVID cases in other parts of the country.
The source said that the government will issue revised Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for COVID-19 on January 8. It included restricting large public gatherings and imposing night curfew. The re-imposition of night curfew would likely take effect from January 8.
The emphasis will be on COVID appropriate behavior, especially mask-wearing and maintaining the requisite social distancing etiquette. “All the District Task Forces will be asked to ensure adherence to COVID appropriate behavior, particularly wearing of masks. And then night curfew will also be imposed. The timings and other things will be made known tomorrow,” said the source, while adding that work was on to finalise the SOPs and other related things.
Boundary demarcation or reorganizing the erstwhile Dimapur district was another major issue discussed. The source did not disclose much on this, only stating, “Boundary demarcation was also discussed. There will be further discussions on this. Discussions are on.”
