Yesterday’s gruesome incident in the State Capital Kohima where four persons were killed in broad daylight has once again brought to fore the contention being raised in public circles over the deteriorating law and order situation in Nagaland. The latest killings in Kohima—a day after all the hoopla surrounding the commemoration of the International Day of Non-violence—should not be seen as a stand alone incident but one among similar mayhem being witnessed for quite sometime now. On top of it all, the emerging social unrest over question of land claims starting with Intangki and also the various diktats and quit notices issued at some point of time by both the NSCN factions is only adding to the fluidity of the situation.
What is perplexing in all of this is that the government appears to have lost sight of its primary duty which is clearly visible from the near absence of the state machinery in the post-crisis scenario. This was more so following the incidents at Jalukie Zangdi and Inavi villages. Leave alone the Chief Minister, not even the Home Minister found it worthy enough to at least give some form of reassurance to the public, especially those affected. Similar is the case with yesterday’s incident and the silence (at the time of writing this editorial there has been no word from the government’s side) of the government shows the utter confusion that prevails within the current political dispensation. It is high time that someone from the government should take up the moral responsibility and assume some semblance of authority. With the Chief Minister away in Bangkok and the Home Minister unheard of for sometime, a senior Minister needs to stand up and assume charge of the prevailing situation.
With so much of violence stalking the State, the credibility of the government—which has been frantically putting across the point of view that the law and order situation in the State had been brought under control since the DAN had taken over the reigns of the State Government—remains highly questionable and unconvincing. Quite significantly, a major ally of the ruling DAN Alliance the BJP has now for the first time publicly voiced concern over the present situation in the State by expressing unhappiness over the “miserable failure” in maintaining law and order in the State. It will not come as a surprise if the other smaller ally in the government likewise distances itself from the present regime. At the end of the day, it is well understood that the most important duty of a government is the maintenance of law and order and this government has failed on this count.
Whatever the motive behind yesterday’s gruesome incident, the government would have to take its own set of initiative so that the security of its citizen is not compromised under any circumstance. And if this government is sincere that it is here not just to occupy the chair but to perform its due responsibility, then this is an opportune time to both demonstrate and restore a semblance of order and authority. While it is true that the present internal disturbances have a political dimension to it, nevertheless there is no excuse as to why a duly elected government should not put into use its authority more seriously or else it would simply mean the hijacking of political authority by the laws of the jungle.
