Public demand handing over cadres for justice
Dimapur, April 18 (MExN): One youth was killed at Singirijan, Dimapur last night reportedly by cadres of the NSCN-IM, on the pretext of being a drug-addict. The latest killing by the undergrounds this time led to vehement outrage with incensed public and villagers of Singirijan and Touphema placing the body of the youth in front of the NSCN-IM’s Hebron Camp and refusing to remove it until the cadres are produced to the public for justice, sources said.
There are conflicting reports regarding the motive behind the latest murder. A source said that the dead youth, from the Angami community, was shot because he was a drug-user. However, another public member said that the youth (unidentified till filing of this report) was heard ‘shouting’ tribal remarks against a particular Naga community to ‘go back’ and for this, NSCN-IM cadres appeared and killed him. The murder is informed to have committed in the Government Primary School area either late midnight of April 17 or in the wee hours of April 18.
Another source also gave a different version of the motive. It was informed that the youth was “arrested” earlier, along with three other youths by NSCN-IM cadres for reasons yet unknown. Over time the three got into a tiff with the cadres leading to the youth being shot. Later, the NSCN-IM authorities are said to have offered the explanation that “he was shot because he was a drug-addict.”
Still, another version said that the youth died from severe injuries inflicted on him by the cadres and not shot. The three youths are said to be from Touphema village.
Whatever the reasons, the protesting public members, till late afternoon today set their demands to the NSCN-IM that the cadres responsible for the murder be produced immediately to face public action. The body of the murdered youth would not be removed until and unless, the culprits are produced before the public, it was informed.
The police could only offer vague details of the incident, although police teams were dispatched to the scene of murder as well as to the protest site.
