Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 23
The Nagaland state government has instituted a Special Investigation Team to inquire into the violence that claimed 3 lives on March 22 in a disputed sector (Lamhainamdi) of the Dimapur-Peren district boundary. The Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton issued a press statement today informing that the SIT will be headed by a senior police officer.
Condemning the incident as “outrageous and numbing,” Patton said that “killings go against the very tenet of life” and appealed for calm and peace. He added that the government has taken cognizance of “this serious issue” and asserted that “the law will take its own course and befitting punishment will be awarded in accordance with the law of the land.”
Victims laid to rest
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the three victims were laid to rest today. Official sources informed that the bodies were buried in Lamhainamdi, the disputed place where the shooting occurred. The victims’ families refused the conduct of post-mortem, it was added.
Two vehicles and an unspecified number of temporary structures were found torched at the site. The police also recovered hand written notes, cautionary in nature, purportedly left behind by the assailants.
It was added that five others managed to escape the gunfire. They were later rescued by the police.
Monday’s fatal incident was described as one of a series of many incidents linked to a land dispute over Lamhainamdi— a new settlement, which is said to fall just along the Dimapur-Peren district boundary. The Dimapur-Peren boundary, on the whole has remained a contentious and unresolved issue serving as a recipe for violent flare ups between communities, intermittently.
In other developments, a candlelight vigil was organised in Jalukie on Tuesday evening. Civil society organizations in Peren were also scheduled to hold a peaceful meeting in Jalukie on March 25.
CrPC 144 imposed
On account of the violence and apprehension of untoward incidents as a result, the Peren and Dimapur district administrations, in separate orders, announced the promulgation of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC on both sides of the disputed district boundary belt.
Both the orders took effect from 9:00 pm, March 23 prohibiting the assembly of more than 5 persons and carrying of weapons, including firearms and machetes/daggers, catapults and sticks.
As per the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Peren, the area where the order was imposed extended “from Mhainamtsi (Kohima - Dimapur) Junction towards Mhainamtsi Police Check Gate to Heningkungwla Police Check gate bordering Dimapur District.”
On the Dimapur side, the area which came under the prohibitory order covers the “highway stretch from Vihuto village-Khehoyi village-Kiyevi village area.”
The orders will remain in effect till further orders.
