DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 24 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today met with a 7-member delegation of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) led by its Vice President, Sashi Naga and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) represented by senior legislator C Kipili Sangtam to work out ways to bring peace in the eastern parts of Nagaland state.
A press note from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) informed that the CM appealed for cooperation from tribe bodies in apprehending the perpetrators of the February 6 killing of a couple in Shamatore, leading to unrest and violence in the region.
The CM specifically asked the bodies to “disband armed groups which were reportedly kept by different tribes to protect them in times of need.” “Having such armed groups ostensibly to protect the tribes is a very dangerous phenomenon and should be disbanded henceforth,” the CM said.
The ENPO delegation informed the CM that the decision to disband armed groups was decided upon at the ENPO meeting at Longleng in May 2015 and said “however such a resolution would be reiterated very shortly in the days to come.”
The ENPO told the meeting that it has been meeting various tribe bodies in their area and urging them to cooperate with the Nagaland Government and law enforcing agencies in apprehending the perpetrators of the killing.
The CM assured that the perpetrators will be caught and tried “according to the laws of the land no matter whether they are militants or insurgents belonging to any group or tribe because murder is a crime and shall not be condoned in any manner.”
The CMO further quoted the ENPO Vice President as stating that “both the Yimchungers and the Sangtams were unanimous that the culprits should be arrested and brought to book without further delay, and that the ENPO leaders have also convinced the tribal bodies not to serve ultimatum to the Government giving specific time limit to bring the culprits to book.” He however, expressed apprehension that the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Government was “dragging its feet on the issue.”
The delegation further briefed the CM on the ground reality in Pungro sub division, informing that 219 households were destroyed affecting a population of 1362 persons, out of which 456 were students and 119 were Government employees.
On the ENPO’s request that the Disaster Management Agency grant relief and aid, the CM clarified that the SDMA deals with natural calamities, and as such would not be the appropriate authority to intercede in this matter.
Regarding the rejection of the Rs 1 Lakh ex gratia and government employment to the next of kin of the murdered couple, the CM clarified that he could not increase the amount, since it was the standard practice of the Government to grant such an amount.
The CM expressed concern at the “recent Quit Notice served to some villagers in Peren district resulting in displacement of hundreds of people and that even after the Notice was revoked the affected persons were yet to relocate.” He asserted that “uniform treatment should be given to all, and partiality cannot be the norm.”
The Chief Minister “reiterated that no one has the license to kill and that the guilty, no matter what their political or tribal inclinations or affiliations are, will be dealt with as per the laws of the land.”
