Dimapur, Sept 29 (MExN): Several persons from the Muslim community were brutally assaulted by a group of youths at Tuensang on the night of September 27. Concerned citizens writing to this paper said that the youths accosted a taxi in which some members of the Muslim community were traveling to their mosque for fasting and praying. The youths, according to a group of citizens, also including some government servants, forced the taxi to a stop, took away the keys and began assaulting the occupants without any rhyme or reason.
While some of the victims escaped under cover of darkness, those who could not, received grievous injuries. Later one of them was brought to an area at Bazar Sector A and dumped into a nullah, taking him to be dead. The injured was later found by some people who took the victim to Tuensang Civil Hospital. However, on account of the nature of injuries, doctors advised that the victim – in coma – be taken to Dibrugarh Hospital.
Meanwhile on receiving information of the assault, cadres of the NSCN-IM immediately launched an ‘operation’ and apprehended all the culprits involved in the incident. The miscreants were later handed over to the Tuensang Police station. ‘Now it is up to the district administration and law enforcing agencies like the police to take appropriate action against the culprits,’ concerned Tuensang citizens A Khong Chang, Imlong Chang, Lithrongba Chang, Musoi Khimn, and Makam Yim said. The citizens lamented that such unfortunate incidents have taken place in Tuensang before but culprits are not arrested although they were identified while the district administration remained “deaf” and silent even as anti-socials take the law in their own hands.
The citizens, appreciating the effort of the NSCN-IM cadres in taking prompt action, expressed hope that they would continue their “good works” for the people even in the days to come. It was also informed that the business community downed their shutters on September 28 in a show of solidarity with the victims.
