The Custodial death of Mr. late Kivika Assumi on the charge of two wheeler theft under the Quick response Team (QRT) of Kohima village Youth Organisation (KVYO) and the back lash of the Sema’s of Dimapur on the innocents citizens targeting mostly influential Angami’s business/property leading to death, destruction of properties , tension on tribal line was rather unfortunate and should be condemned by all right thinking section of society and came at a time when we the Nagas with the rest of North –East were facing prosecution and treats from other outside communal section and the need of the hour was to project a united front against the illegal Migrants and those communal force who were trying to incite fear psychosis into us. The Ugliness and the magnitude of the clash, vandalism of property mostly of the angami’s within a short time suggest that there must be some misunderstanding, suspicious, tension shimmering between the angami’s and the sema’s and custodial death was a flash point that provided the spark, it also reflect the administration slow to grasp the seriousness and magnitude of the situation and reacted to the situation only after it become apparent it may spiral out of control and after much damage has been done.
The custodial death of Mr. late kivika Assumi under the KVYO, QRT was most unfortunate and need to be condemned by all; however is the lightening vengeance an eye for an eye justifiable? Lately it seems the Nagas /tribes /UGs are short on fuse they seem to make the statement do not mess with me / tribe/Organisation or else? (This brings to mind the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi’s grit, strength and determination on Non-Voilence in the face of British atrocities on the Indians, Is it obsolete in Nagas Society?) Exasperating as it may be due to rising crime particularly vehicle theft. This incidents should wake us to serious thoughts- lately due to rising crimes some leader’s and Governments instead of taking responsible for the unrest of society and taking serious measure to contain crimes for which they have been vested upon them the power by people(Democracy) have simply unloaded the responsibility to the Community (akin to Pilate the Governor washing his hands off Jesus blood in the Bible) and inciting the youths to take stern measures where some overzealous youth in the process can lead to excess been committed even in future.(with due respect to the goods the KVYO,QRT have taken to maintain order) , Secondly- our leaders/policy maker’s need to realized the future prospect of more serious internal conflicts on tribal/Communal lines rather than external aggression, Thirdly- due to advance in technology and communications any conflict has the potential to spread more quickly to other areas.
As Ugly as this incidents may be, we the Nagas have to live with one another due to geographical, Cultural affinities for which i would like to make some humble suggestions to contained rising crimes and flares on tribal lines,-That steps should be taken by Naga Hoho Tribal Hohos, to encourage cultural exchange, particularly between the warring communities’ tribes, etc.
-To make bail for the Offending party more difficult as easy bail have make our policing work most frustrating, the public loss of faith in our police/Govt Agencies as well as embolden criminal intents minds.
-To train a highly specialized fluid police /administrative official specifically in psychological warfare to negotiate with warring parties, take corrective measures to hate messages, response quickly to situation and identify potential volatile situations.
-To have GIS maps, GPS point prepared of those Volatile areas along with particular numbers of community residing in those areas so that they can be advised and closely monitored in case situation arising which can have cascading effects on those areas.
-With various implication involved in community policing the youth and the community should be given some basic training both on psychological and physical training and sensitized to issues and constitutional right through workshops and to be led by competent authorities, A word of caution is they should be in supportive role and at no point of time surpassed Govt agencies who are better trained to handled situations(here i belived rather than throwing their hands in the air out of frustration the police should rise to the situation).
-Thirdly every right Politician /leader should propagate one nationhood, brotherhood of Nagas rather than dwelled on the narrow Domestic wall of tribalism, community, village, clans etc base on the pride of superiority of tribe, village, clan, financial power, as majority, or simply as local of that area. Let us rise up beyond pretty politics and be wary of such propaganda of superiority of race, tribe because that notion was the root cause of Nazism and Fascism leading to untold suffering, horror of death and destruction in the WWII.
Kezhasilie Chiezou,
PhD scholar’s Department of Geology,
Nagaland University, Kohima
