Kohima, September 21 (MExN): Three civil society organisations have condemned the alleged attempted murder of a daily-wage labourer in Chiechama village under Kohima district and demanded a thorough probe and denial of bail to the accused.
As per reports, Langshi Chang, a resident of Chendang Saddle village in Tuensang district, was allegedly shot at with a .22 country-made rifle on September 16 around 11:00 AM while working at the Government Primary Health Centre (PHC) construction site in Chiechama village. The accused has been identified as Medochulie Rurhie of Chiechama village.
In separate statements, Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Union Kohima (ENPUK), Sangtam Union Kohima (SUK), and Chingmei Range Public Organisation (CRPO) condemned the “barbaric, inhuman and premeditated” attack and urged the law-enforcing agencies and the State Government to ensure justice for the victim.
The ENPUK said the accused had allegedly thrown stones and blocks multiple times and verbally threatened the labourers to stop working there. It described the firing in broad daylight as a “direct challenge to the rule of law” and said the contractor and department concerned had a legal duty to ensure safety at the workplace.
Noting that Chang is the sole breadwinner of his family, the ENPUK said the act had caused severe financial distress and pushed his family towards “multi-generational poverty.” It demanded that the accused not be granted bail “under any circumstances.”
The SUK urged the investigating agencies to prosecute the accused “with the full force of the law” and reaffirmed its commitment to a society where no innocent worker fears for his life while earning an honest livelihood.
The CRPO called the incident “highly condemnable” and appealed to authorities to provide necessary medical assistance and restitution to the victim.
All three organisations appreciated the swift action of the Nagaland Police, the Chiechama Village Council, and village youth and civil society organisations in apprehending the accused. They particularly lauded the Chiechama Village Council for publicly condemning the act of its own villager and declaring that no village member should bail him out.
The organisations expressed solidarity with the victim's family and the Chang community and prayed for Chang's speedy and complete recovery.
