Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 18
Three women were beaten with sticks at a village in Mokokchung’s Tuli A/C in a case that showcases the brutality defining elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Youth numbering 6-7 from Merangkong village in Tuli A/C, Mokokchung district, beat up three women from the village after they were accused of supporting a candidate not endorsed by the village.
Official sources informed today that the youth blindfolded and beat up the women with sticks on the night of February 17. The women were alleged to have been distributing the money on behalf of a candidate who is not the ‘consensus’ choice of the village—the Merangkong village ‘citizen’s union’ had earlier decided to support a “single candidate,” official sources stated.
“The news leaked on Saturday night that the women had some money. Village youth entered their home the same night and beat them up at the back of their legs with sticks based on this allegation,” stated the official source. The police brought the three women to the Tuli civil hospital on the morning of February 18, with one admitted due to the severity of the beating.
The women have stated to the police that the money, amounting to less than Rs. 8,000, was legitimately earned by them. The police has filed an FIR under section 451/506/324/34 IPC. The police also attempted to arrest the youth who had, however, fled the village by then, officials informed. An investigation into the case is on.
“Some citizens have fled from their homes to support the other candidate from the village,” informed a source on the condition of anonymity, hinting at the severity of the situation in Merangkong village in particular and Tuli A/C in general. Tuli A/C has seven candidates running for one seat—this has now translated into physical violence against women.
