Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 11
In a startling development, the Dimapur Police arrested member of Dimapur Municipal Council, Ghoikhu Assumi at 10:30 am today. Ghoikhu Assumi alias, G. Kits was arrested on charges of Assault and Detaining of a Government official, R.C. Sarmah, while performing official duty.
The Police said that a complaint had been filed against the accused on February 24 by Assistant Divisional Engineer of Northern Frontier Railway R.C. Sarmah, and an enquiry had been taken up by the police against the registered case. It was after a lot of effort, that the arrest warrant was obtained on Friday and implemented this morning when Assumi was informed of the warrant against him over the phone and asked to “surrender himself” at the OC’s place.
It may be recalled that Assumi had physically assaulted a railway official on February 23, 2007 over collection of vehicle parking tax at the premises of Dimapur railway station. It had earlier been reported that Assumi who is the convener of Parking and Traffic of DMC, had manhandled Assistant Divisional Engineer R.C. Sharma, for allotting parking tax collection permit to some other party while the DMC claimed that it was under their jurisdiction. Eye witness had reported on the incident that the DMC member has assaulted Sarmah despite pleas that he was from the construction department of Northern Frontier Railway while parking tax came under the commercial department.
The police revealed that the complaint mentioned that while supervising dismantling of Railway quarters and boundary walls in the “circulating area” for the beautification of the area, the accused had assaulted the complainant.
The FIR articulated “obstructing of work” by saying that the area fell under DMC jurisdiction, using of “unparliamentary languages”, “abuse” and “manhandling”.
After the arrest, the DMC member was taken to the Court for the hearing at ADC Court which was administered by Magistrate Khano. The Municipal member, Assumi was allowed bail and the date for the next hearing has been set for June 11, 2007. Coming out of the ADC office, Assumi spoke to The Morung Express, slamming the activities of the Northern Frontier Railway. “If they (NFR) are working in the interest of the Nagas, than I am also working for interest of the Dimapurians, but they are carrying out work outside their boundary”, Assumi exclaimed.
Detailing the activities of the NFR, the DMC member stated that the Railway people had been collecting tax from the DMC parking which was outside their boundary wall and encroaching the parking zone and the road. “We have no problem if they want to carry out beautification but, before they break down the boundary wall, there should be some terms and conditions with the DMC” Assumi reasoned and said that there had been no official information to the Council to this effect.
The Dimapur police have sent a notification of the arrest to the Chairman of the Dimapur Municipal Council with a copy to the Deputy Commissioner. According to the charges slapped on the convener of Parking and Traffic of DMC, if convicted, Assumi will have to serve a term that may extend up to a period of 2 years.
.jpg)
