KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Angami Public Organisation (APO) and the Khuzama Village Council have condemned the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near Khuzama village along NH-29 on November 11, calling for the identification and arrest of those responsible.
The blast occurred at around 7:25 am under the jurisdiction of Khuzama village. While no casualties were reported, the Khuzama Village Council stated that the explosion damaged a retaining wall and surrounding plantation along NH-02 (Dimapur-Imphal).
In a statement, the APO said the blast was intended to "scare and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere" in the district and the state, particularly with the festive season approaching, farmers occupied with harvesting, students preparing for final examinations and the business community gearing up for the season.
The organisation condemned the "intention to create panic and disrupt normal life" in the surrounding villages and the district, reiterating that "the Angami Society has no place for violence." Expressing relief that no casualties had been reported, the APO appealed to the public to "remain vigilant and not let unscrupulous elements shatter the peaceful atmosphere of the district and the state."
It also urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident "with utmost sincerity" and apprehend those responsible at the earliest. The APO pledged its "full support and cooperation" to the agencies in unearthing such activities and preventing their recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Khuzama Village Council expressed shock over what it described as an act by "some external anti-social elements" and said such an incident was alien to the village's culture. "This brazen attack with ulterior motives, disrupting normal life, threatening peace and harmony in the society is alien to our culture and will never be tolerated," the council stated.
It said residents had never imagined that such an incident would occur "at its backyard or vicinity." Given that NH-02 is one of the busiest highways connecting Nagaland and Manipur, the council described the incident as "a clarion call to all stakeholders to be on guard" and make collective efforts to tackle such elements.
The council demanded that those responsible be traced and apprehended at the earliest, placing its trust in the concerned agencies for an early and logical conclusion to the investigation and calling for the "severest of punishment" for the perpetrators.
