Arson, gunfire and 11-12 individuals wounded but no official record
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 7
The ownership dispute over Lamhainamdi boiled over into open conflict yet again as an alleged confrontation between two groups took place on November 7. The district administrations of both Peren and Chümoukedima responded by promulgating section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting the movement and assembly of people in groups of more than 5 persons in and around the disputed area, which is located about an hour, by road, from the 7th Mile junction, NH 29.
The orders, issued concurrently, by the Dimapur Police Commissionerate and the Deputy Commissioner, Peren cited breach of law and order and threat to public peace as the grounds for the promulgation. The order from the Peren DC prohibited “assembly of more than 5 (five) persons and carrying of any lethal weapons and arms in the disputed Lamhai Namdi village and adjoining areas” till further notice, while security personnel on duty and medical emergency services have been exempt from the purview of the order. A travel advisory was also issued advising caution while travelling via the Molvom-Kiyevi-Mhainamtsi-Peren and Dimapur-Pimla-Peren routes.
The order from the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur prohibited assembly of not more than 5 persons and “carrying lethal weapons and firearms including lathis, dagger/machete, sticks, spears, catapults or any other dangerous articles in the highway stretch from Vihuto Village-Khehoyi Village-Kiyevi Village area and along the Chümoukedima-Peren Border Belt.” The order took effect from 12:00pm, November 7 and will remain in effect till further notice.
As of the incident, there was no official update from the government administration of Peren and Chümoukedima, but independent sources informed that there was arson and exchange of gunfire at the disputed site and people sustaining bullet wounds.
One of the sources said that groups of people began proceeding to the disputed site since early morning, despite police presence, subsequently culminating in the arson and gunfire. The arson and firing was said to have occurred sometime around 10:30-11:00 am with the gunfire lasting some 5-10 minutes. It was followed by people turning up at the District Hospital, Dimapur with varying degrees of injuries. The number was tipped to be 11-12 individuals, some of who were discharged after first aid and a few referred to other hospitals.
The government version differed on the number of wounded with a senior state government official stating that three people were officially recorded as sustaining pellet injuries. The official said that the day’s unrest at Lamhainamdi was the culmination of a sustained campaign of back and forth from both sides of the dispute. He maintained that the police fired in the air only as a deterrent.
A police official further maintained that the police have no official report of anyone coming forward with a complaint about the incident. Jurisdictional ambiguity over the disputed site has also the police reportedly held back as to take decisive interventional action.
Who fired?
While the reports have been that there was gunfire, ambiguity prevailed as to the nature of the firing. There were conflicting reports, with one version claiming that the injuries reported were a result of the police firing in the air to deter the belligerents from taking matter into their own hands. Another claimed that there was exchange of gunfire between the disputing belligerents.
Further, though not officially reported, a second round of gunshots occurred later in the evening. A source said that the situation at the site was tense but “under control.”
