Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 17
With a probable economic blockade looming large in the aftermath of the incident involving Naga IRB personnel at Golaghat on September 15, the PHQ, Kohima, is believed to have ordered an internal inquiry. A hurried meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Assam and Nagaland is also scheduled Saturday, September 18, informed sources said. The venue for the meeting is yet to be confirmed.
PRO of the police headquarters, ST Sangtam disclosed Friday evening, September 17 that an internal departmental probe is underway. A full report of the inquiry will be expected, the PRO said, only after the departure of the Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who will be visiting Kohima for the bamboo summit on September 18.
It is to be noted that the chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi has already ordered an inquiry into the incident on the Assam side.
The PRO disclosed that Personnel of a company of the 12th (NAP) IR based at Tuli, Mokokchung making their way to Kohima was involved in the unfortunate incident. The company was being deployed for law and order duty on account of the VP’s visit.
The company in question is in Kohima at present; the PRO said and will go about their normal duties, the ongoing probe notwithstanding.
The number of students injured in the incident, which occurred at a place called Murphulani Tinali under Golaghat district along NH 39, is conflicting. On September 15 students, mostly school going, were protesting against the government’s apathy and lack of development in the area and had blocked the highway. Earlier reports had stated that a convoy of Nagaland police, enroute to Kohima, got stuck on the highway as a result of the protest. The convoy was also reportedly escorting two undertrials when the incident occurred, informed sources said.
The protestors’ unwillingness to let the Nagaland police convoy through compelled the state police personnel to clear the road, which turned violent resulting in the injury of a score of students. Reports from Assam side also claimed that the Nagaland police personnel resorted to blind firing. The DC of Golaghat who shot off a protest letter to its Dimapur counterpart Thursday evening put the figures at 11 hospitalised and 21 badly beaten up’, including girls.
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur Maongwati Aier confirmed the receipt of the letter Friday evening. According to the letter, Aier said the protestors which numbered in the hundreds were mostly made up of school going boys and girls. In the letter, the Golaghat DC is said to have stated that they have video footage to proof the highhanded actions of the Naga police personnel.
Nagaland police on the other hand has claimed that the student protestors turned violent and started attacking the police convoy. The DC said that he has forwarded the letter to the Principal Secretary (Home) and the Home Commissioner, Nagaland. Aier further disclosed that as called by his Golaghat counterpart a meeting of the DCs of Dimapur, Wokha and Golaghat was scheduled for September 18 at Bokajan. However, owing to the VPs visit it was postponed. The meeting will be possible only after the VPs departure, Aier said. Meanwhile, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen said that an “inquiry is potentially required” adding the matter will be tackled on the merit of the case. Imchen said that he is waiting for the official report on the incident.
