A Nagaland government vehicle which was burnt and rolled-over by a mob on the night of April 28 at Kiphire. (Morung Photo)
Locals displeased by AR’s “high handedness”; 144 CrPc imposed
Our Correspondent
Kiphire | April 29
A co-ordination meeting was held at the Assam Rifles (AR) camp here today with Parliamentary Secretary Power C. Kipili, DIG Range W. Krome, Commandant 7 AR DB Tingre, district administration and NGOs to discuss matters and resolve the incident that occurred on the night of April 28 wherein a mob burned down vehicles and the official residence of DC Kiphire. This was preceded by jawans from the AR assaulting three children in Kiphire town.
Addressing the meeting, C. Kipili said a ‘High Level Committee’ will be constituted to ascertain “what has gone wrong” and also appealed elders to find a solution so that the situation can be normalized. He also appealed members present to extend co-operation to each other so that the situation will not go out of hand.
DIG range said, “What has happened has happened but we have to put our heads together to bring back the situation to normal.”
Locals who spoke on the occasion, including NGOs, expressed displeasure with the AR for their “high-handedness” and said, it is because of the action of the AR that the situation has come to this. It has been reported that the AR has been aggressively frisking locals for the past 2-3 months, giving rise to displeasure among the people.
Nonetheless, the district administration has imposed 144 CRPC till further orders and ‘shoot at sight’ has also been imposed if more than three persons are seen moving in town areas. The mob in Kiphire, reacting to the assault of three minors by jawans of the 7 AR, had burned down six (6) vehicles, of which four (4) belonged to the district administration, one (1) to DEF and one (1) to AR. The mob also burned down the DC of Kiphire’s official residence.
Following an altercation the night before, people of Kiphire town stormed the 7AR camp, after which the AR opened fire on the people leading to the injury of four (4) youths, with two in critical condition. One AR jawan was also injured after the mob caught him. The patients are being treated at District Hospital Kiphire.
