Govt appeals Civil Society for restraint
Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): Two Sumi student leaders including the Speaker of the apex Sumi Kiphimi Kuquhuhi (All Sumi Students’ Union) were shot at by unidentified gunmen in front of the Breeze Restaurant near Bata Charali today at around 1:50 pm. The SKK Speaker, Bineto Swu, who was shot in the neck, is in a critical condition and was airlifted to Guwahati Neurological Hospital this evening at around 4 pm.
The other victim, Atoka N Chopy, advisor to the Kiphire Sumi Students’ Union was shot in the hip. However he is out of danger. The “NSCN/GPRN” has claimed responsibility for the shooting. The shooting is said to be yet another case of “mistaken identity,” innocent public members fear so much. Nagaland Home Minister, Imkong L Imchen has demanded from the “NSCN (K)” to gracefully hand over the culprits to the State Government.
In the wake of the traumatic incident, the Dimapur district administration has called for restraint on the part of civil society, organizations and student communities and has appealed to them not to take any “unpleasant activities” in retaliation or lightning bandhs or strikes in the city with regard to today’s incident. Shops were force-closed by some youths in Dimapur barely an hour after the shooting today.
Speaking to media persons at Zion Hospital, Atoka N Chopy narrated that while he and Bineto were coming out of Breeze Restaurant and were entering their vehicle (a Tata Indica - NL 03 1672), some armed assailants came out of ‘nowhere’ and simply shot at them after saying “Nobolabidi! Nobolabidi” (‘don’t run away’). The assailants fired three shots. However the second shot misfired and did not hit the target.
Atoka, who was shot in the hip, tried to run towards Bata Charali and reached a police mobile squad Gypsy. However there was only an unarmed police driver inside the vehicle. As Atoka entered the vehicle and saw that one of the assailants had followed him and was taking out the pistol again. He fled towards the Hong Kong market, where he met two IRB personnel and one police personnel who escorted him to East PS. Meanwhile the assailants drove away in the Tata Indica, which was later recovered at Burma Camp area by police this evening.
Dimapur SP, Liremo Lotha has informed that an enquiry has been initiated by the district police and asserted that disciplinary action would be initiated against any personnel if there were any lapses on the part of the police during the whole incident. The incident took place in broad daylight in the heart of the city.
Home Minister Imkong L Imchen took stock of the situation and called a press conference at the SP’s office which was attended by the deputy commisisoner of Dimapur, SP, the Naga Council’s president and former MLA Azheto Zhimomi. Imchen informed to have requested the chief minister to airlift the SKK speaker to Guwahati which was agreed to. The SKK speaker was airlifted at around 4 pm. Imchen informed that Nagaland House Guwahati and other state machineries have been alerted to take care of the injured person.
While strongly condemning today’s incident, Imchen disclosed that the “NSCN (K)” has claimed responsibility for the shooting. Dimapur DC Maongwati Aier added that it was done on “mistaken identity”.
Terming the incident as one of the ugliest, Imchen demanded that the “NSCN (K)” should gracefully hand over the culprits to the state authority. He asserted that the two victims were not involved with any Naga underground factions in any manner and that they were innocent citizens.
The Home Minister and the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Maongwati Aier on behalf of the district administration, appealed to the various civil organizations and the students’ communities not to resort to any ‘unpleasant activities’ like calling of lightning bandh or strikes in the city in retaliation of today’s incident. “We are putting in our best effort,” the Home Minister assured while adding that he has given a direction to mobilize the security forces and their network in the district.
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