As traditional landowners of our capital town, Kohima Village has been blessed with many benefits, but along with it we have inherited a myriad of unforeseen problems and ills. Many anti-socials throng the capital only to prey on those residing or visiting to earn honestly, as such circumstance compel us to secure the safety of our citizens and the well being of the capital which cannot by any means be left to the state govt alone on the basis that it has been made the state capital by fate. One of the major concerns in recent times is the crime of vehicle lifting and extortion of which we along with various other citizens are becoming victims once too often.
The last time vehicle lifters were apprehended was when three youths (all turned out to be sumi) on equal number of stolen bikes were chased down till Medziphema town from the center of the village. Teams were also sent towards Mao gate, Phek road and Wokha roads. (We expect thieves to escape in any direction and do not target specific routes or communities unlike some presume) In another case QRT took part in apprehending a man from Zunheboto at Chakhabama, Dzü River trying to escape with a vehicle stolen in broad daylight from new sect office parking lot. People have condemned us like we are criminals due to their fear of violent people. Most disgusting was , those did so with personal agendas not even remotely connected to this unfortunate incident! If this is where Nagas have reached? Where we are headed? There may be some villages amongst the 900+ in Nagaland that may not chase thieves or lay in wait for them by passing the responsibility to the police or govt. But we at KVYO do not follow that system nor do we leave it to our senior citizens, womenfolk and children to protect our property and land. We are in awe of those individuals, NGO’s and communities who allow the govt to take care of all their wellbeing by not ‘taking the law into their own hands!’ Various individuals and NGO’s questioning the functioning of Kohima village should reflect on how their respective tribes and villages function. KVYO’s QRT is only a mirror image of the various ‘youth force’ and ‘action committees’ functioning in our society. To some, our Naga customary and traditional systems may have become irrelevant after the arrival of the Indian govt and formation of a state govt! To us at KVYO it has not become redundant. Both are in practice. KVYO will not let QRT turn rogue because of the criticisms and provocations hurled at it in the print and electronic media in the past one month, it will be withstood. QRT’s existence is an internal affair of Kohima village and it will continue to function till a time KVC decides otherwise.
Volunteers in QRT are trained in ‘Search and Rescue’ including basic ‘first aid’ by instructors from the ‘Central Training Institute’ Dimapur. Tackling and use of fire fighting equipment’s alongside others by the ‘Nagaland Fire Services’ included. KVYO’s QRT was also the only NGO to have taken part in the ‘Mock Drill’ organized by the ‘Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority’ at Kohima and in providing food and assistance to 200+ Paramilitary, police, home guard, administration, medical, red cross, municipal and other govt depts. QRT volunteers have taken part in the search of a young man from another village whose car was found at Doyang bridge months ago but himself still untraceable. The team in one incident spent 32 hours searching alongside others for a lost and disoriented boy belonging to another community as per the training. QRT is trained to save lives not take it. QRT was formed to protect not destroy. On our Aug 30th vigil which involved running into Lt Kivika and his subsequent demise 7 hours later on Aug 31st. Police, the commanders of NSCN IM, NSCN K and officials of GPRN/NSCN at kohima were informed about our late night vigil. KVYO could not inform the Assam Rifles and NNC officials at kohima as done on previous outings. Will an organization out for senseless action follow such a procedure?
This was the second encounter between KVYO and Lt Kivika. He and a friend were intercepted on May 2, 2012 around ‘10pm’ at an ‘isolated part’ of the highway beyond Meriema village, possessing vehicle registration papers and narcotics while they were not in possession of a vehicle. QRT volunteers had responded to a bike theft in town and they were found loitering in the vicinity of the stolen/hidden bike. He was a suspect then and therefore not harmed but handed over to the police station. They were released after two days and his accomplice was caught again a month later for vehicle lifting in Mokokchung and Akuluto by police, according to newspaper reports. Suspects who are caught are treated likewise. Catching someone red-handed is altogether another story. On the night of 30th August 2012, of the many teams in different locations, the team stationed near IG Stadium Kohima, intercepted 2 (two) motorcycles at ‘3:30 am Aug 31st.’ The first bike (a Bajaj Discover bearing registration number NL-02E 2365 belonging to Mr. Kevilelhou Solo s/o Mr. Theyiesalie Solo/stolen from Tinpatti) with a single rider reversed and escaped back towards Kohima when signalled to slow down and the bike was later found abandoned at Khikha beyond G. Rio School. Lt Kivika who was riding the second bike (a Bajaj Pulsar 135cc bearing registration number NL-07J-2414 belonging to Mr. Vekhozo Keyho/stolen from Daklane) was wrestled down by the volunteers, the pillion rider jumped off the moving bike and escaped into the night and forest. Lt Kivika as well as 2 volunteers sustained injuries when resistance was made upon interception. No doubt our volunteers assaulted him at the spot, but it was never with the intention of taking his life. Lt Kivika was then taken to High School Junction where, a perimeter had been set to block his escaped friends. It was during this period that he was further assaulted by the crowd and aggrieved victims of vehicle thefts, like it often happen in public. As such he was taken to Oking Hospital for first aid after calls were made to police to take over the search for his two accomplices. During his confinement he also revealed that his accomplices Mr Akashe Shohe s/o Khevito Shohe and Mr Mughato Yepthomi s/o Heguvi were the same group that lifted the municipal bike from Para medical the previous night, later on abandoned at New market when the owner of the 2nd bike they were tampering with came upon them around 1am. Police also arrived and recorded his statement but he was not handed over to them since his wife and a brother of one of the escaped had already been informed to appear before KVYO with the absconders. It was around 10am when he asked to go to the toilet and was allowed, on exiting he was reported to have showed signs of fatigue and collapsed. Efforts made by residents nearby to revive him proved futile and he lost consciousness. The lapse on our part to provide timely and necessary medical attention is highly regretted for which we once again tender our sincere apology to the bereaved family. Let it be noted that no criminal has ever been assaulted at KVYO office in the past, neither will, nor was Lt Kivika in this unfortunate incident or others in previous cases.
It is a month since the fateful incident. Many individuals and NGO’s have taken part in one of Naga people’s favourite media activity which has gone viral and become a trend as in fashion. Raining condemnations and passing a verdict before the appropriate agency does or both sides are heard! We have been time and again been labelled murderers, barbarians and criminals by many virtuous organisations and individuals. Whatever might be the causes that led to lt Kivika’s death! We have accepted that a person did pass away in our custody and accept responsibility for it. It was the act of a few irresponsible ‘crooked leaders’ and NGO’s whose acceptance of ludicrous rumours led to their passing of myopic sermons and delivering ill timed tirades against KVYO/QRT (Like it is done to many other people and groups in our society) that caused things to reach the level of tribalism seen by all and felt by many. God be everybody’s ultimate judge of all those who contributed to this incident negatively, with selfish motives. KVYO urge all those who put a tribal colour to this incident not to do so again in the future for the sake of peace and brotherhood. We at KVYO express our profound gratitude to Mr. Kanito Assumi father of the deceased, public leaders and citizens of Keltomi village. Sumi Hoho and Sumi Totimi Kohima and ‘those individuals’ from the sumi community residing at kohima who continue being ‘exemplary citizens’ since it was made our capital decades ago. Kohima village council and the various subordinate organizations under it are also thanked immensely for settling the issue in true family spirit here at Kohima where the incident occurred and ended.
(Nothing further will be debated or countered upon by KVYO in the media on this incident. Story being shared is not for ‘Groups involved in bringing calm, finding forgiveness and sacrificing for the hard earned peace’ but for those particular citizens and NGO’s irrespective of tribal affiliation that have involved themselves seeing green pastures beyond the debacle of Lt. Kivika and KVYO/QRT)
DZIESENEITUO BELHO
President, KVYO
MEDOVILHOULIE TSEIKHA,
General Secretary, KVYO
