To,
1. Shri K T Vilie, Convener, NTAC, Kohima 2. Shri C T Jamir, Secretary, NTAC, Kohima 3. Shri Sapu Jamir, Convener, JCC
Subject: Regarding the ultimatum dated 08/03/17 and the meeting on 11/03/17 with the Cabinet Sub Committee
Sir, I would like to refer to the ultimatum dated 08/03/17 submitted by the JCC and NTAC to the Chief Secretary, Nagaland and the subsequent deliberations with regard to the same in the meeting held with Cabinet Sub Committee on 11/03/17 at Kohima
2. The demand for suspension of the former Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Deputy Commissioner, Longleng and the police personnel who were handling the violent crowd both in Dimapur and Longleng on 31/01/17 for an impartial judicial inquiry has been duly considered and examined from all aspects by the Government and it is felt that suspension of the officials and the police personnel at this stage would neither be justifiable nor proper. A Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) with a mandate to make a detailed inquiry into the violent incidents that occurred in Dimapur, including the steps taken and the security arrangements made by the police and administration has been constituted. It would be appropriate to wait for the report of the JIC before deciding initiation of departmental proceeding or suspension or for taking other type of punitive action against the officials and the other personnels.
3. As regard the steps to be taken for ensuring an impartial judicial inquiry it may be mentioned that the then Commissioner of Police Dimapur and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (11), Dimapur have already been transferred out by the Government.
4. The matter regarding expansion of the Judicial Inquiry Commission as brought up in the meeting on 11/03/17 has been considered and a decision has been taken by the Government to make it a three member body with inclusion of another judicial member and a member, preferably with judicial background, to be nominated by NTAC/JCC. It is requested that you may suggest the name of a suitable person accordingly so that the necessary notification for constitution of an expanded JIC may be issued by the Government.
5. The ambit of the present JIC is limited to the violent incidents which occurred in Dimapur on the 31st January 2017. In view of the ultimatum submitted wherein reference is made of the incidents in Longleng and also considering that there were violent incidents elsewhere as well, it is proposed that the scope of the Judicial Inquiry Commission may include all such violent incidents that occurred in connection with the Elections to ULBs in the State. Thus JIC would be mandated to make detailed inquiries into all the incidents including the entire chain of events leading to the incidents, the arrangements made by the administration and police for dealing with the situation, the causes and the persons responsible for the violence.
6. I would like to state that in the event of inclusion of the violent incidents of Longleng in the scope of inquiry of the JIC, the Government may consider transferring out the Deputy Commissioner Longleng for free and impartial inquiry.
Your response on the above is solicited for enabling the Government to take further necessary action on the whole matter.
Yours faithfully, Abhijit Sinha, IAS Home Commissioner
