DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 1 (MExN): Describing the situation in and around Dimapur district as ‘critical’ with destruction of properties resulting in law and order problems, the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur N. Hushili Sema has issued an order imposing Section 144 CrPc (Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973), which states that no one will convene, join or constitute an assembly of five or more than five persons in Dimapur district till further orders. The order will come into force with immediate effect. The Magistrates, police and security shall be exempted from the purview of the said order. “And whereas there is apprehension of danger to human lives and property and disturbance to public tranquility if five or more persons congregate or assemble in and around Dimapur district”, the order from the DC stated.
In a separate order the DC has written to villages under Dimapur district explaining the reason from issuing order under section 144 CrPc in the district in order to maintain public peace and tranquility and to safeguard human lives and property with immediate effect. “And therefore all the Village Councils/GBs under Dimapur District have been directed that no untoward situation is created in the respective villages by preventing unauthorized grouping/meeting failing which serious legal action shall be initiated, the DC order stated.
The clamping of the curfew was the outcome of the violent upheaval on the National Highway 29 at 6th Mile on Saturday over the custodial death of an alleged bike lifter in Kohima on August 31. The effect of the tragic incident in Kohima reverberated around Dimapur today, while it took a communal tone, as mobs clashed right on the National Highway 29 in the midst of calls for calm and restraint.
What initially started as a peaceful mode of protest turned ugly in the afternoon as two opposing groups armed with stones, sticks, slings and machetes converged at 6th Mile for a confrontation. In the aftermath of the mayhem, which started around 3:00 pm and lasted for near about half an hour, one man and a young woman lay fatally wounded and half a dozen injured. They were wounded by gunfire. The man with gunshot wound to the side of the head was admitted to CISHR, and was in a state of coma. The woman was wounded in the abdomen.
The clash was quelled only after the arrival of police, though late they were. While the police were cordoning off the area around Niathu Resort about two kilometers away, the clash had erupted. Only a handful of unarmed constables were on hand at the site before reinforcement arrived. By that time damage was already done. Had reinforcement arrived earlier, the clash could have been averted. Intermittent stone pelting continued throughout the afternoon while sporadic firing also went on till 6:00 pm.
Earlier in the morning, Sumi frontal youth organizations had called for a ‘bandh’ in Dimapur in protest against the unfortunate incident in Kohima the day before. After enforcing the lightning bandh, youths gathered at the Clock Tower and later at the Nagarjan junction near the Town Hall demanding that the government take immediate action against the culprits involved in the killing of Kivika. The youths were, however, pacified by some elders who were having a meeting. While the meeting was in progress, some sections of youth went about enforcing the bandh in town owing to which the NAMSA autocross rally and Mr. Dimapur contest which were scheduled for Saturday were also postponed.
Some youths also went up to Niathu Resort around 1:00 pm to enforce the bandh. Properties worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed at the resort by the infuriated youths.
Around 3 vehicles parked inside the resort were also damaged. From that point on, youths from both the sides belonging to the two communities were engaged in pelting stones towards each other. More than 25 vehicles and around 3 motorcycles were strewn all over the highway at one particular spot. The vehicles reportedly belonged to the enforcers of the bandh.
Even the imposition of curfew had little or no effect in the area beyond 3rd Mile. In town, movement of more than three people was restricted contrary to the official order prohibiting assembly of five or more people. More violence erupted later in the evening as the two sides tried to vent their frustrations on property. Reports said that one side took to damaging a car showroom at 6th Mile. In retaliation, the other side resorted to pelting stones at another well known car showroom at 2 ½ Mile. Anxiety and tension prevailed throughout Saturday as vague reports of both sides calling in reinforcement swirled around. Till late night the actual number of injuries either fatal or minor could not be concretely ascertained.
