(Right to left) ZSUN President Adaube Hiekha Hau, ZYON President R.John Zeliang, ZSUN General Secretary Kibouwi, and ZYON Assistant General Secretary Chahutkerin at the press conference in Dimapur on June 6. (Morung Photo)
No breakthrough in April 7 rape and murder of woman after 2 months
Morung Express News
Dimapur l June 6
Zeliangrong organisations have called for a shutdown of Peren district, indefinitely, starting June 10. The announcement was made at a press conference jointly addressed by the Zeliangrong Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) and Zeliangrong Students' Union Nagaland (ZSUN) in Dimapur on June 6.
The organisations said that the shutdown will be total, affecting even government institutions. They described the planned shutdown as the second phase of an agitation, which was temporarily kept in abeyance, in protest against alleged government failure to address their demands with regard to the suspected rape and murder of a 35 year-old woman in Pimla on April 7.
The first phase of the agitation lasted for 5 days and involved boycotting of government vehicles in Peren district. It was temporarily suspended on April 26 pending a meeting scheduled with the Commissioner, Nagaland on April 28.
ZYON President, R John Zeliang, told the press conference that at the April 28 meeting with the Commissioner, the state government was given two weeks. On the request of the Commissioner, the deadline was extended to one month, which expired on May 29. “However, there was no follow up action on the part of the government,” he said, while declaring that they will not backtrack on their decision to go ahead with the agitation.
He alleged the government of playing with the sentiments of the people. “Therefore, we have decided not to backtrack and go ahead with what we decided at the Mhaikam rally (on April 11),” he said.
He questioned why the public is required to wait for justice when the government has not been able to provide the requisite resources — investigative aids — to the police department. The case has emerged to be a source of embarrassment for the state government as the police investigating the case have cited lack of a proper forensic laboratory in the state as a primary factor affecting the pace of the investigation.
ZSUN President Adaube said that they waited for a week after the deadline expired hoping the government would deliver, or even updating on the progress of the investigation. The government did not, he said, while adding that the planned indefinite shutdown of Peren district will continue till justice is served.
The ZSUN General Secretary, Kibouwi held that delaying justice is equivalent to encouraging “evil-doers” continuing committing crime.
While there has been no official update from the police, it was informed that 5 persons, including the husband of the victim is in custody.
