Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 4
In an incident that paints Nagaland and its people in poor light, a professional from Mumbai working on several projects documenting Naga art and culture was assaulted and an attempt made to kidnap him by four Naga youths at City Tower Junction, the nerve center of Dimapur on Saturday. There were no IRB Mahila or police personnel anywhere in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
The victim was forced to get into a waiting auto-rickshaw and even threatened with a pistol. The driver of the auto, sensing foul play, fled the scene. It was only after sensing that things were not going their way did the offenders stop the assault and walked away towards Circular Road.
The incident happened around 6: 15 pm. Since there are no street lights (probably defunct due to daily load shedding or no maintenance), the identity of the accused could not be ascertained.
Speaking to The Morung Express, the victim said that the four youths were not scared and were confident of what they were doing with no fear of public intervention. “I hail from a secular state of India and have lived in an Islamic country, a Buddhist kingdom and a Christian state. I have travelled the length and breadth of India, but this is the first time in my life that I was physically assaulted and almost kidnapped!” says the victim, taken aback by the incident.
Expressing surprise and raising concern about security of people including outside professionals, business investors and international tourists who come to Nagaland, the victim questioned if there was an “unspoken but accepted soft curfew by the Nagas”. “Whose idea is this and why have the people of Nagaland accepted this? Are you not encouraging them by not standing up and fighting for what is rightfully yours – civil liberty and freedom of movement in your own state?” he asks.
The professional from Mumbai has been in Nagaland for the last two months trying to build bridges among the artists’ community, promoting art and culture. At present, he is working with local artists, media and an organization under the Union Ministry of India to document and promote dying art forms in indigenous culture so that community level artists are benefitted and to save endangered age old traditions and customs. “I am here doing this of my free will and volunteering for this noble cause. I am committed to my work here and will ensure that I complete it within the stipulated timeframe…is this the price I pay for being in Nagaland?” asks the victim who counts many Naga people among well wishers and friends.
“Will you help me promote your culture and art forms so that community level artists in your villages benefit? Will you help me promote your Nagaland? This incident isn’t about me. This incident is about Nagaland and your people. Will you prove to the world that this is not what Nagas stand for? Will you fight for civil liberty and justice? What’s your message Nagaland?” states the victim, raising a series of question, perhaps food for thought for people of Nagaland.
