Kohima | August 17 : The indefinite bandh clamped on the Wokha-Merapani Road by the Kyong Hoho, the apex tribal body of the Kyong passed off peacefully on Wednesday with no reports of any untoward incidents.
The Kyong Hoho has imposed the indefinite bandh with effect from Wednesday (August 17) starting 6am ‘to avoid heightening of tension’ between the Kyong and other communities along the Assam-Nagaland border, following the reported murder of a cattle seller, whose body was found near Lakhuti village under Wokha district on August 14 last.
“The bandh is so far peaceful. The situation in the border area is tense but under control. The hoho has given strict instructions to Kyong student unions and public not to harass anybody or create situations,” Kyong Hoho president Yansathung Jami told The Morung Express over phone from Wokha Wednesday afternoon. Jami also said that ‘in order to avoid unnecessary tension’ between communities in border areas like Merapani, the bandh will continue till normalcy is restored.
He also informed that Nagaland police personnel who are investigating the reported murder case have detained two “non-local” suspects, also cattle sellers, at Bhandari police station.
Appealing for calm, the ‘hoho’ president iterated that the issue is “purely a law and order one and not a border issue. “The truth has to be found out and the culprits brought to book,” Jami said.
Earlier on Tuesday, an emergency meeting of the Kyong Hoho and other frontal organizations along with Wokha District GBs Association held at Wokha, discussed the August 14 murder incident and alleged physical assault on nine Naga boys by a group of people at Merapani. Condemning the murder of the cattle seller identified as one Habib Ali from Assam side, the Kyong Hoho in a statement also stated that a mob in Merapani started harassing innocent “Lotha/Naga people falsely accusing them of the murder.”
Also, sources revealed the PWD Minister of Assam visited the site last evening and had a meeting with the public leaders, and made an effort to bring normalcy to the ongoing issue. However the minister’s visit was not intimated to Wokha district administration officially, sources said. Speaking to The Morung Express, Deputy Commissioner of Wokha Rovilato Mor disclosed that they had a meeting with police and district administration today at CRPF camp in Bhandari and decided to act fast to book the culprits immediately as also the persons involved in assaulting the Kyong youth.
The Deputy Commissioner declined to comment till the completion of inquiry. It also said that the ‘highly suspected’ friends of the victim who went to dispose the cows together are detained and also the host of the cow from Lakhuti village is reportedly in police custody.
The border magistrate informed that the culprits are yet to be arrested and investigation is still on.
Parliamentary Secretary Geology & Mining, Irrigation & Flood Control, who also holds Border affairs Portfolio, said the information he received from the administration seem to be under control and said he will visit the site on 20nd August.
Chairman Kyong Hoho, Yansathung Jami, said till the normal situation is restored bandh will continue. Also sources said that NGOs and public bodies intervening to bring the situation under control.
(With inputs from Dimapur office)
The Kyong Hoho has imposed the indefinite bandh with effect from Wednesday (August 17) starting 6am ‘to avoid heightening of tension’ between the Kyong and other communities along the Assam-Nagaland border, following the reported murder of a cattle seller, whose body was found near Lakhuti village under Wokha district on August 14 last.
“The bandh is so far peaceful. The situation in the border area is tense but under control. The hoho has given strict instructions to Kyong student unions and public not to harass anybody or create situations,” Kyong Hoho president Yansathung Jami told The Morung Express over phone from Wokha Wednesday afternoon. Jami also said that ‘in order to avoid unnecessary tension’ between communities in border areas like Merapani, the bandh will continue till normalcy is restored.
He also informed that Nagaland police personnel who are investigating the reported murder case have detained two “non-local” suspects, also cattle sellers, at Bhandari police station.
Appealing for calm, the ‘hoho’ president iterated that the issue is “purely a law and order one and not a border issue. “The truth has to be found out and the culprits brought to book,” Jami said.
Earlier on Tuesday, an emergency meeting of the Kyong Hoho and other frontal organizations along with Wokha District GBs Association held at Wokha, discussed the August 14 murder incident and alleged physical assault on nine Naga boys by a group of people at Merapani. Condemning the murder of the cattle seller identified as one Habib Ali from Assam side, the Kyong Hoho in a statement also stated that a mob in Merapani started harassing innocent “Lotha/Naga people falsely accusing them of the murder.”
Also, sources revealed the PWD Minister of Assam visited the site last evening and had a meeting with the public leaders, and made an effort to bring normalcy to the ongoing issue. However the minister’s visit was not intimated to Wokha district administration officially, sources said. Speaking to The Morung Express, Deputy Commissioner of Wokha Rovilato Mor disclosed that they had a meeting with police and district administration today at CRPF camp in Bhandari and decided to act fast to book the culprits immediately as also the persons involved in assaulting the Kyong youth.
The Deputy Commissioner declined to comment till the completion of inquiry. It also said that the ‘highly suspected’ friends of the victim who went to dispose the cows together are detained and also the host of the cow from Lakhuti village is reportedly in police custody.
The border magistrate informed that the culprits are yet to be arrested and investigation is still on.
Parliamentary Secretary Geology & Mining, Irrigation & Flood Control, who also holds Border affairs Portfolio, said the information he received from the administration seem to be under control and said he will visit the site on 20nd August.
Chairman Kyong Hoho, Yansathung Jami, said till the normal situation is restored bandh will continue. Also sources said that NGOs and public bodies intervening to bring the situation under control.
(With inputs from Dimapur office)
