DIMAPUR, NOV 7 (MExN): Taking strong exception to the manner in which the State government was responding to the murder of Late Hovizol Puyo, a wireless constable of the police department hailing from Visewema village who was shot dead by unidentified armed persons on October 3 at BOC, Kohima, the Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) has in a memorandum addressed to the Nagaland Home Minister demanded appropriate action within a period of fifteen days, cautioning that SAPO will be compelled to resort to its own course of action.
In the light of non-action on the part of the government, SAPO placed three demands for immediate action and gave a period of fifteen days for the government to act. This included, to immediately set up a special police team headed by a senior officer to thoroughly investigate the case; to verify and substantiate the veracity of the allegations made by the CAO, Angami region, NSCN (IM) against the cadres of the NSCN (K) namely SS Lt Bokato Sumi, SS Lt Vitoi Sumi, SS Corp Toshika Sumi and SS Hekuto Sumi for their involvement in the murder of Late Hovizol Puyo. SAPO also demanded that the government verify and substantiate the veracity of the allegations made by the urban Commander, Kohima NSCN (K) against the cadres of the NSCN (IM) namely Captain Mohangam Tangkhul, Umesh Bihari and Lt Shekho Chakhesang for their involvement in the murder of Late Hovizol Puyo.
“SAPO would like to express its deep disappointment over the utter inefficiency and non-concern on the part of the government, to bring the criminals to justice. It amounts to total lack of law and order machinery”, stated the memorandum signed by Phelukhwe Kirha and Ketsodil Neikha, President and General Secretary respectively of SAPO.
Pointing out that Lt Hovizol was completely innocent and devoid of any involvement whatsoever with any of the underground group or factions, the memorandum stated that the perpetrators of such a heinous a crime deserve the highest degree of punishment.
Informing on the resolution passed on October 11 by the Viswema Village Council (VVC) demanding from the State government the booking of the culprits within fifteen days and to punish them as per the law of the land, the SAPO memorandum stated that both the NSCN factions had made counter allegations blaming each other for the crime.
On the contrary, the SAPO pointed out that the State government and its investigative agencies had not given due importance to the murder of its own police staff and the VVC resolutions, since till date no culprits have been brought to book nor any suspect detained in connection with the case. “On expiry of 15 days deadline, we are finding it difficult to pacify the Viswema Village Council who are contemplating to resort to their own course of action”, the SAPO memorandum stated.
