Morung Express News
November 16
DIMAPUR: Subsequent to the NSCN (K) claiming responsibility for the assassination of former DGP late Hesso Mao on November 8 at his private residence in Kohima, the Nagaland Police today came out in strong repudiation of the organization’s justification for carrying out the killing.
The Nagaland Police in a press statement issued by MV Chakhesang, Inspector General of Police (INT) strongly refuted the version of the NSCN (K) which appeared in the local print media that late Hesso Mao was assassinated for capturing and killing with his own service revolver an NSCN (K) cadre SS 2nd lieutenant Visalie alias Michael Angami in cold blood.
“The NSCN (K) organization justified the assassination was in connection with the killing of one of their cadres SS Visalie alias Michael Angami who was allegedly caught by the then Addl. DGP (OPS) late Hesso Mao and shot him with his own service revolver terms as cold-blooded. But it is not correct at all. It is also not correct that the incident had taken place in May 2002 as claimed by the organization through media” the statement clarified.
In this regard, the release ‘in order to bring out the facts of the incident and to keep the record crystal clear’ maintained that on May 3, 2000, cadres of the NSCN (K) under the command of SS 2nd Lieutenant Visalie had ambushed a deployment of ‘B’ Coy, 4th NAP BN Tseminyu pay-escort convoy which was carrying rations as well as salaries and allowances of the Coy personnel.
The convoy was then ambushed and looted of an amount of Rs. 1, 54,698 near Nerhema village under Kohima district. Following the looting, the Nagaland Police carried out immediate combing operations in the areas, under the command of the then Additional DGP (OPS) M Hesso Mao for recovery of the looted amount and to arrest the miscreants. The release then stated that on May 5, 2000 reports were received that some of the miscreants involved in the looting of the money were camping near Thizama village.
Accordingly the Police party conducted house-to-house searches in the mentioned areas and in the course of the operation two miscreants were rounded up.
The release then pointed out that one of the two miscreants had an AK assault rifle and for which the Additional DGP (OPS) ordered that the arms be surrendered. However the cadre refused and loaded his weapon to fire on the Police party. Seeing the gravity of the situation the police party opened fire, killing the cadre and recovering the weapon from the deceased who was later identified as SS 2nd Lieutenant Visalie alias Michael Angami while the one who was arrested was identified as SS Sgt Khekito Sema, the release stated adding that both the cadres belonged to the NSCN (K).
In this regard, the allegation that the Additional DGP (OPS) Hesso Mao had killed the deceased cadre was not correct, according to the clarification. It also clarified that the recovered weapon from the deceased cadre was seized by the police in connection with the robbery case and had been kept under the custody of the Police as exhibit in the court and as such the allegation that the seized weapon was kept by late Hesso Mao as a “souvenir” was not at all correct, the Police stated.
