• Protesters vandalise properties at Directorate of Prisons & Kohima District Jail
• Will not accept anything less that severest punishment to accused, says APO
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 19
The public procession held on September 19 in protest against the murder of Late Neiphretuo Metsieo, turned violent when an angry mob marched towards the Directorate of Prisons & Kohima District Jail and vandalized properties there.
Onlookers who were caught allegedly filming the incident were also assaulted and their mobile phones destroyed. The vehicle of media personnel on duty was also damaged.
According to eye witnesses, the incident took place after the gathering submitted the memorandum to the Chief Minister who assured them of delivering justice. The angry mob then marched towards the Directorate of Prison & Kohima District jail and began vandalizing properties and vehicles in and around the area.
According to police sources, one bolero, a gypsy a prison van belonging to the Directorate of Prisons and two 2 wheelers were damaged. Glass panes in the office were broken. The mob was pacified through the intervention of the Angami Youth Organisation's Quick Response Team (QRT).
Most of the shops and business remained closed till late afternoon.
A short program was held at the Old MLA Junction, Kohima before the procession.
“We are extremely saddened over the death of Late Neiphretuo Metsieo. It angers us that the two accused took advantage of his generosity. This is an inhuman act. We cannot bargain our anger," said Dr. Kepelhusie Terhüja, Angami Public Organization (APO) president.
Regretting over the delay in justice for murders in recent years, Terhüja urged the gathering to work hard to deliver justice and ensure that such inhuman acts are no longer committed the State.
Short speeches were also delivered by President, Angami Youth Organisation president, Neinguvotuo Krose, and Chiechama Village Council chairman, Neitso Sogotsu.
Thousands of Angamis from all the four regions joined the processions in their traditional attires, along with the various tribes and communities in Kohima who also showed solidarity and joined the procession to the Chief Minister’s official residence.
The APO memorandum to the Chief Minister of Nagaland had three demands.
It demanded that the state government provide every details of the complete investigation report while alleging that there are “elements at play which have abetted and are complicit to this crime.”
The APO said it will not accept anything less that the severest punishment to the two accused in the murder of late Neiphretuo Metsieo. It has warned that any external forces interfering in the investigation process or anyone trying to bail out the culprits shall be doing at their own risks.
The APO also regretted that not even a single CCTV cameras installed in the entry and exit points of the state capital are functioning. It has therefore demanded that the government immediately install hi-tech state of the art CCTV cameras in all the exit and entry points of Kohima particularly at the state bordering with Manipur.
Expressing trust in the government, the APO hoped that it will initiate all necessary measures to immediately deliver justice so as to avoid the matter from going “beyond control for the larger interest of peace and good sense.”
