Of late, aftermath the August 31 Kohima incident and September 1 Dimapur incident, there have been many write-ups in the newspapers. Most of the articles have denounced both the incidents. However, one particular trait found in most of the articles is the unforgiving voice given for destruction of properties and surprisingly not the two deaths. More words and spaces in the articles were attributed to the properties destroyed. The death of two persons was made insignificant and the loss of properties was magnified.
While both the incidents are highly condemnable, we must weigh which one needed the highest condemnation. Many have overlooked the preciousness of life and only saw the replaceable properties destroyed with heartbreak. Life cannot be retrieved. This has shown how materialistic those people are, not realizing they too have life which will one day be lost and their close ones will grieve. They can’t say whether their family will also forgive the murderers if they too meet the same death-fate.
Without any ill-intent, this humble observation is made. So far, not a single article has come from the hands of Sumi community but from other communities. The Sumis have remained silent not because of their weakness but because of the shame they brought unto themselves owing to property destruction by some misguided elements. But some people seems to have drawn strength from the silence and have begun to raise their voices shamelessly not knowing that their brothers were indulged in a crime bigger than destruction of properties.
Many have tried to bring out diplomacy and neutrality in their articles by condemning both the incidents. But they have failed and readers have noticed their hypo-critic diplomacy and veiled neutrality because the messages of the articles as a whole were softer on the two murders and harsher on the loss of properties.
Prominent organisations such as the Naga Hoho have failed to maintain its neutrality. But the Naga Hoho can still come back to the track of neutrality, if it wishes to. Nevertheless, the choice remains with the Naga Hoho to regain its lost image.
Neiphiu Rio-led government has failed to prevent the situation but can at least control the damage done by conducting the post mortem of the incidents without favouritism.
The neutrality, wisdom and unbiased view of the various committees set up by the government will be known with the outcome of their reports because people know that life is more precious than property. Property lost can be regained but life lost cannot be regained.
Akheto Sumi
Dimapur
