DIMAPUR, MARCH 7 (MExN): The Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung has issued a show cause notice to the Changki Village Council over the alleged physical assault on a 58 year old woman in election relation violence.
The Morung Express News had carried a report on March 7 issue that the woman in question was brutally beaten up on the night of March 5 and excommunicated from Changki village under 29 Jangpetkong A/C in Mokokchung district.
Quoting reports, the DC, Saching Jaiswal in the show cause notice stated that the reason for the brutal assault and excommunication from the village was because she didn’t vote for the candidate supported by the CVC. Three other people-two women and a man were also reportedly excommunicated from the village for 30 years for the same reason. The DC stated that “this shameful act conducted in the village is a mockery of free and fair elections mandated by the Election Commission of India and a blatant violation of the office of the Deputy Commissioner letter NO.CON/EL/2018/68, dated 15/02/2018 pertaining to the role of the Village Council during elections.”
The DC quoting Section 15 (1) of the Village Council Act, 1978 stated that “Village Council shall be auxiliary to the District Administration and have the powers to deal with maintenance of law and order and also to enforce orders passed by the competent authority on the village as a whole inter-alia other things.”
The DC however said the CVC has not reported such a serious issue neither names of the persons involved in such a heinous crime has been reported. “This raises serious questions over the functioning and the efficiency of the CVC as per the mandate of the Village Council Act,” it added.
In this connection, the DC has directed the CVC Chairman to appear before him in person on March 8, 2018 with the names of the perpetrators, and to show cause as to why action should not be initiated against him.
It also cautioned that any failure on the point of the CVC to act positively on this issue would be a ground for dissolution of the Council under Section 54 (1) of the Village Council Act.
NSCW disturbed by election-related violence against women
Terming election- related violence against women as truly disturbing and shameful; the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) on Tuesday said the Changki village episode once again exposes the “male bias and tendency to vent collective anger towards the weaker section of society only.”
While condemning the unwanted assault on the woman concerned, NSCW chairperson, Dr Temsula in a press statement hoped that the perpetrators of this incident and those involved in the February 17, Tuli incident are brought to book. It appreciated the efforts undertaken by the Mangkolemba Police Station on the March 5 incident.
The Commission also noted with grave concern the uncalled for harsh punishment to the ex-communication of four people who were simply exercising their rights under election rules of the country.
