Ministerial team meets civil society organizations
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 11
A sense of calm returned to Shamator on February 11 following two eventful days, which were marred by sporadic incidents of mob violence, arson and vandalism. An official source from Shamator stated that situation was under control with security personnel on high alert as apprehension still prevailed.
In Kiphire town, the situation was also reported to be returning to normalcy with no untoward incidents reported since February 10. Following the incidents of arson and vandalism at Pungro town on the night of February 8, no fresh incidents of violence has been reported from Pungro, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the Ministerial team led by Home Minister, Y. Patton visited Kiphire and Shamator today while having separate consultations with the civil society of the two towns.
A source, who attended the meeting at Kiphire, while speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the 6-point charter of demands served by the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), United Sangtam Students Conference (USSC) and Akehda Sangtamlaru Thsingmujang (AST) were the main points brought up at the meeting. The charter of demand-cum-ultimatum was served on February 8 and carries a deadline of 7 days.
According to the source, the organisations rejected the Nagaland State government’s offer of Rs. one lakh each as ex-gratia to the family of the two victims, who were shot dead on February 6. The organisations stood by the special ex-gratia demand of Rs. 5 lakh each as stated in the 6-point charter. They were also not happy with the government’s response to the ‘job replacement’ demand against the deceased parents’ jobs. The source said that the government did not entirely fulfil that particular demand, which was employment in a ‘Grade-III’ position for any two kith and kin of the two deceased.
The organisations made it clear to the government that they will not accept anything less than what have been demanded, the source disclosed, while adding that they have no problem with the inquiry team set up by the government to probe the February 6 incident so long as it is fair and unbiased.
The Ministerial team later had a similar meeting with civil society at Shamator. The meeting at Shamator was facilitated by the Assam Rifles. An Assam Rifles press release stated, “…the Civil Administration approached 15 Assam Rifles for providing the requisite administrative support for conduct of the meeting within the unit location.”
Though not much detail of the meeting could be had, an official source from Shamator described it as “fruitful. The Tikhir Tribal Council, Yimchunger Akheru Arihako, Shamator Public Forum, Yimchunger Women’s Organisation, GBs and Shamator Ad-hoc Town Council attended the meeting. According to the source, the organisations reiterated and stood by the demands issued by them, respectively. Both the sources said that the Ministerial team assured to look into the grievances and demands, while informing that there will be a Cabinet seating to discuss the issues shortly after they return to Kohima.
