The Peace missiion team at the graves of the three persons who were killed in the March 22 incident at Lamhainamdi village under Peren district. (Photo Courtesy: TUD)
More condemn March 22 incident, demand justice
Dimapur, March 25 (MExN): Following the March 22 incident in Peren district in which three persons were killed by armed assailants and properties were burnt and destroyed, a ‘peace mission’ team reportedly met the Zeliangrong CSOs of Peren district and the families of those killed at Lamhainamdi on March 25 at Jalukie Town .
According to a press statement from the Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD), the team comprised of the TUD along with Tenyimi Students' Union Dimapur, Tenyimi Women Organisation Dimapur, Tenyimi Youth Organisation Dimapur and tribal Hohos.
The team embarked on the peace mission and laid wreaths in the graves of the three who were killed in the incident.
TUD President Hilo Semp expressed anguish and pain at the loss of precious lives in the hands of anti social elements and appealed everyone to work together to ensure justice for the innocent victims.
Various other speakers stressed the need to shun violence. A prayer service was held at the site where the three villagers were killed.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, several organisations decried the March 22 incident and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
The GB Union Dimapur (Urban) strongly condemned the killing stating that “taking the life of our own brethren will never bring any solution” and added that violence will only give birth to violence.
The union urged the State government and the law enforcing agencies to ensure that the culprits are booked at the earliest and justice delivered as per the law of the land.
In a separate statement, the Kuki Inpi Nagaland also condemned the incident and appealed the State government and the District Administration to examine and delve into the root cause which triggered the incident and settle the case amicably.
The Nagaland Dobashi Association asserted that whatever the point of contention was between the disputing parties, taking arms to take lives of the innocent persons and destroying properties was “outrageous and unacceptable.”
Condemning the crime, the Association demanded justice for those killed. Welcoming the SIT set up by the government, the Association expressed faith that the perpetrators would be booked at the earliest possible time and be made to pay the price for their crime.
The Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC) also expressed its disappointment at those groups of people who were behind the crime and strongly condemned the incident. ‘Violence in any form is a threat to peace’, it said, and appealed all concerned to refrain from any provocations and retaliations. It also hoped that various agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, would restore peace at the earliest.
Condemning the incident, the Ngwalwa Students' Union appealed to the investigation agencies and the Government of Nagaland to immediately arrest those responsible and award them befitting punishment. The Union also expressed solidarity with different CSOs of Peren district.
“There are sufficient protective laws of both Naga customary practices and other written laws for settlement of any misunderstanding or dispute but not at the cost of human life,” the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) stated on Thursday.
It condemned the act of taking law into one’s own hands and exhibiting gun culture and it urged law enforcing agencies to book the culprit(s).
Joining the mass outrage, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) condemned the March 22 incident and said that it is “alarming that instead of approaching the administration and law enforcing agencies to adjudicate disputes and misunderstandings, people have chosen to take the law into their own hands and resorted to cold-blooded killings.”
The party appealed the government to bring the culprits to book without delay and also appealed to all to abide by the law, and adhere to Christian ethics.
It further urged people to refrain from giving a communal touch to the incident. Nagas must rise above smaller divisions and work towards real Naga unity, it added.
The Youth Association of Nagaland (YAN) expressed anguish over the killing and strongly condemned the barbaric act.
YAN through its Media Cell appealed the government and law enforcing agencies to conduct fair and impartial investigation into the murder and punish the culprits according to the law without delay.
The New Jalukie Students’ Union (NJSU) vehemently condemned the incident and informed that among the three innocent killed, one was a permanent resident of New Jalukie Village.
The Union on behalf of the entire students’ community of New Jalukie Village voiced that such anti-social activity has no room in a civilized society. The Union appealed to both the parties for to resolve and settle the misunderstandings through peaceful dialogue and mutual discussion under the initiatives of the State Government at the earliest without resorting to violence.
It appealed for peaceful co-existence and harmony and to ensure that no untoward incident occur again in the near future. It also demanded the law enforcement agencies to book the perpetrators and let justice be delivered at the earliest possible time.
The Zeliangrong Students' Union Bangalore (ZSUB) also condemned the incident and demanded justice. It also requested the law enforcing agencies and the state government to probe into the matter and take sincere actions. It appealed the leaders take prompt actions with utmost care and in a peaceful manner. It further appealed to all Naga citizens to refrain from painting a communal picture of the unfortunate incident, and to shun all violence.
The Chakhro Angami Kuda Union (CAKU) voiced against the incident and stated that acting in “such a primitive, uncultured and unethical manner is totally unacceptable.”
Appealing for respect of boundaries of neighbours, the CAKU also asserted that it is “time to be transparent and expose the wrong doers…” It appealed the national workers to retrospect into the prevailing system, stating that some ‘vested interests’ were using the umbrella term of ‘nation workers’ to fulfil their evil designs and create chaos in the society.
CAKU further urged the civil administration to leave no stone unturned and give befitting punishment to the culprits.
Condemning the incident, the Rengma Hoho stated that killing among Naga brothers is unacceptable and unbearable.
The Hoho further appealed right thinking citizens not to shelter the criminals but let the law enforcing authorities award appropriate punishment to the perpetrators.
The Rengma Youth Organisation, Dimapur (RYOD) condemned the killing and demanded a thorough and unbiased investigation at the earliest. The culprits must be arrested without delay, it added.
It also appealed the government for ex-gratia/compensation to the family of the victims as some of them were sole providers of the family.
RYOD requested the administration to ensure the safety and security of Lamhainamdi villagers in particular and the people of the concerned areas in general from further violence and atrocities.
Meanwhile, as per a Newmai News report, the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) said that such “blatant disregard for law and order and for human lives is intolerable and finds no place in the history of our people”.
LNC said that feuds and issues “must be amicably sorted out with dialogues and there should be respect for one another, and not by guns and weapons” and urged the Government of Nagaland, law agencies and other concerned departments to nab the perpetrators at the earliest and let justice prevail.
ZUF assures ‘justice’
The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) termed the incident a “threat and challenge to Zeliangrong people” and said that the Government and all citizens must voice out for ‘justice in action’.
Any intervention must be equally measured not only by ‘sweet sounding comforts and condolence to the victims of brutality but also by action against the criminals, it asserted.
The ZUF further cautioned that “after thorough gathering of factual evidences and analysis of the recent incident… justice in action shall be measured against the perpetrators.”
Human Rights demands that defence of any human person and properties is justice. “The just right to self determination of Zeliangrong people to defend, preserve and protect the people, land and its resources that lies within the ancestral land of the Zeliangrong people shall be ascertained at all cost,” it added.
The ZUF conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and the village and the Zeliangrong people, assuring that justice will be meted and peace restored in the homeland.
