Dimapur, November 5 (MExN): The Longwa Village Council (LVC), Longwa Students’ Union (LSU) and Longwa Nyupuh Sheko Khong (LNSK) has expressed anger at the physical and mental torture of three minors of Longwa village by one Ronika Miachieo for several years and months at her Dimapur residence.
The organisations in a joint press release stated that ‘Ronika Miachieo first came to Longwa Village in the year 2017 and even interacted with the Chief Angh of Longwa while introducing herself as a Christian Missionary. Later in 2020, while leaving Longwa from one of her visits, she took one of the kids with her, on luring the poor parents by promising free and quality education to their child, to which the parents happily agreed. Later on, two other kids were also brought to her on the same proposal. The parents and relatives were considering her as a Good Samaritan and were always grateful to her for all the help she was rendering to their families. But suspicion arose when the accused Ronika Miachieo hardly allowed the parents to have telephonic conversation with their children, let alone visiting them at home.’
Narrating accounts of the incidents, the organisations alleged that “In the recent days, it came to light that she has been torturing the minors physically and mentally for years and months. The children testified that she even mixed rice with sand gravel and fed them. She also tied meat pieces over their body and let them spend the night with the dogs. She did also hurt their body parts with sharp objects and even poured kerosene and burnt their hair. The minors were mercilessly beaten on regular intervals which are clearly evident through the bruises and marks all over their body. As a result, one of the kids is currently in hospital and is undergoing medication. The medical report also suggests that there were not given proper food because of which the children are malnourished.”
“We are terribly shocked and angered upon hearing the story. She won the hearts of the parents with her sugar coated words and by proclaiming herself as a missionary just to torture the minors and to spoil their lives. And we want to question what enmity she has with the people of Longwa and Konyak tribe in particular,” they stated.
Stating now that she is exposed, she is absconding and is on the run possibly. “We are afraid that our children won’t be the last victims if she is not given the punishment she has earned. Such lunatic does not have a place in a peace loving Naga Society and we vehemently condemn the terrible act meted upon the innocent minors,” it stated.
The organisations strongly appealed the law enforcing authority to nab the culprit at the earliest possible and take stringent action according to law and offered to cooperate with the Police and other agencies all throughout, until justice is served to the innocent minors.
Miachieo Clan: The Miachieo Clan, Lhisemia Khel, Kohima village expressed shock to hear about the unfortunate incident of child abuse by one Ronika, which has been widely circulated in the media. “We the Miachieo Clan, condemn in the strongest of terms the incidence of inhuman child abuse by Miss Ronika. With empathy, we express our solidarity with the victims and their family. We demand that the Police and judiciary take the strongest action as per Law,” Miachieo Clan President Pelezotuo Miachieo and Secretary, Neiser Miachieo stated in a press release.
Meanwhile, the clan has stated for the general information that “Ronika is daughter of Bangka Lukram and Kelhousetuoü. Kelhousetuoü is daughter of Bhim and Sasienuo Miachieo. We are patriarchal society, both inheritance and surname passes from father to son. Ronika's father and her grandfather do not belong to the clan or Kohima Village.”
“Further, the Miachieo Clan has not adopted Ronika or her parents, legally or in traditional way. Therefore as per the customs and tradition of a patriarchal society, neither Ronika nor her Parents can claim to be of Miachieo Clan or use the surname,” it clarified.
The clan added, “It is also evident from the fact that in 2021, as per the directives of Lhisemia Council, Miachieo Clan had prepared and submitted census details of clan members wherein Ronika and her Parents names were not in the census.”
AWO: Angami Women Organization (AWO) while condemning “the uncivilized and barbaric act” stated that Ronika’s act has brought “shame to our peace-loving community.”
In a press release, the organisation stated that according to AWO Yehzabo which is in compliance with the Angami Customary laws, a girl who has married a non- Angami man ceases to be considered an Angami woman. However, in few rarest cases due to various factors, a married woman comes back to her clan’s men with her gourd filled with rice-beer and gifts for re-acceptance into the clan. If the clan men agrees to take her/family back, they are entitled to use the original surname, but for re-acceptance, the whole clan will “Terhuorüsuo and Penyie” by observing a non-working day.
“According to media report, Ronika Miachieo father is a Manipuri. Therefore, whether it is still wise to use “Miachieo” if the practice as mentioned above is done/not done. This, AWO leaves it to the clan’s men to verify,” it stated.
While standing in solidarity with the traumatized children, AWO asked the authority to “punish the culprits as per the law of the land so that no such ugly acts are repeated in future.”
Namgalong orgs: The Namgalong Colony Council, Ward 5, Burma Camp with its frontal bodies Namgalong Women Organization, Namgalong Youth Front and GB have condemned the incident.
The council stated in a press release that the Namgalong Colony Council during its emergency meeting on November 5 have “terminated Ronika Miachieo from the post of Secretary, Namgalong Women Organization and ex-communicated her from colony and barred her from involving in any activity of colony till the matter resolve by the law.”
The council stated that it will extend its fullest cooperation to the law enforcing agencies in delivering justice to the victims and Families and conveyed deepest heartfelt sympathy to the victims and families and pray for recover from the trauma
DNSU: The Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNS) expressed utter shock to learn about the “outrageous and inhumane action” that Ronika Miachieo has committed. It is so disheartening to know that she has been doing such inhuman acts upon these children over the years with the promise to their parents of educating and raising them, the union stated.
Further, DNSU demanded that this issue must be dealt with immediately by the concerned authorities and the absconded accused person, must be arrested and reprimanded according to the law without any further delay.
The union has appealed “to the parents' community to be mindful of entrusting their children to just anyone without proper evidence and awareness and to be vigilant about the unprecedented situations in our society.”
DENSU: Dimapur Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union (DENSU) in its condemnation expressed utter dismay to learn about the cruel and inhuman act. And said “it is evident that the minors were kept confined and incessantly tortured, causing intense physical and mental suffering. Such an evil act committed upon the minors is unthinkable of a human being and the union vehemently condemns the same.”
The union has urged the law enforcement authority to arrest the accused person at the earliest, as it is a serious threat to the society to let such criminals wander freely. Furthermore, the union beseeches all the right thinking citizens to condemn such a dreadful act upon the minors in the tranquil society.
