Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 16
Tension refused to subside in Mokokchung as election related skirmishes continued unabated. On February 26, in an incident suspected to be a life bid, one poll contender was reportedly targeted by armed assailants in the heart of Mokokchung town.
The incident occurred at the town’s New Market area at around 5:45 pm, Friday. As per the Mokokchung police, “some unidentified gunmen” fired shots at a shop where NPP candidate from 28 Koridang Assembly Constituency, T Chalukumba Ao was present at the time.
The gunmen were reportedly trying to enter the shop in a suspicious manner alerting the police security escort of the candidate. “Sensing their movement as suspicious, his bodyguard stopped them and started searching them,” the police said. As they were being frisked, one of the gunmen took put a pistol, fired two shots and fled. The police said that the bodyguard retaliated, firing three shots as the assailants ran from the spot. None of the bullets hit any individual.
The candidate was said to have been in another section of the shop when it happened. Asked whether it was an attempted life bid, the police responded with “too early to say anything.”
Meanwhile, the DGP, Nagaland, in a Facebook post said that the candidate was taken to the nearest police station for “ensuring his (candidate) security” and later to Police Station II where an FIR was lodged. Stating that the candidate was safe, the DGP added that all possible security assistance will be provided to the candidate. The DGP also announced a reward of Rs. 2000 for the police bodyguard, constable Imkong whose action the DGP described as “quick thinking and brave.”
NPP condemns
The NPP while alleging the incident as a life attempt on one of its candidates condemned it as “villainy conduct” bringing terror and tension in a state bound for elections. The party appealed the state authorities to book and punish the culprits.
