Dimapur, Nov 20 (MExN): Former Minister K Zungkum from Shamator constituency has issued an account of the November 5 incident at Shamator town where an NSCN-IM cadre allegedly attempted to take his life.
According to the account issued by the former minister, he was demanded of a ‘truck entrance fee’ for a truck carrying sand meant for construction of the new ADC headquarter at Shamator. Having passed many gates, levied with an entry fee from each and having reached the construction site ‘with a handful of taxation’, the former minister requested the NSCN-IM cadre identified as one ‘Corpl’ Rishing to alternate from demanding a huge sum.
However, “no sooner, out of the blue the script changed,” Zungkum stated in his account. The cadre proceeded to brandish a junkyard stick and ordered the ex-minister to bend down. “I am a public leader. I shall never do it even if you shoot me” the ex-minister stated to the cadre when ordered to bend down. ‘Corpl’ Rishing persisted but Zungkum stood his ground which led to the cadre by way of a “bullet gift” loaded his AK 47 assault rifle and fired 7 rounds at his chest, the ex-minister stated. The ex-minister affirmed that he would share the testimony of the miracle of his life being saved by the Almighty despite the attempt of the cadre to kill him.
The ex-minister, questioning the attempt, queried whether the ‘NSCN-IM government’ stands for the freedom of the people or the Nagaland government at “gunpoint rule.”
“It sounds unfair that we have lost so many lives in failing to satisfy their demands. I should say those unable to pay Rs 1000 or Rs 500 are bitterly thrashed and some even killed. Where does our human right stand? On humanitarian ground I should say that in spite of 7 rounds fired at me by Rishing, I saved him from the uprising mob. Therefore, it was with my advice that he was saved from the trashing public and handed over to the police” Zungkum stated.
Regarding vehicle tax, Zungkum opined that it is now a general rule to pay “tax” to all the factions. However the public are quite “unsatisfied” with their daily demands and the people are ready to “explode” on the assertion that “why should we pay tax for every trip we make”, the former minister stated. He asked all underground cadres that if they are really striving for “freedom to save the public from foreign rule” then they should first abide by the Lord Almighty’s commandments i.e., love your neighbor as yourself.
