Kohima: Nagaland Home Minister Imkong Imchen on Monday said the situation in the clash-hit area of Dimapur is slowly returning to normalcy after clashes between the Sumi and Angami Naga tribes.
“The situation in Dimapur is slowly returning to normal but the district administration is keeping a close watch to prevent miscreants taking advantage of the situation,” Imchen told IANS. He said the army would continue to patrol the affected area to assist the district administration in maintaining law and order.
On Sunday, the army staged a flag march in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland a day after clashes between the Naga Sumi and Angami tribes. The clashes between Angami and Sumi tribesmen erupted after one Kivika Assumi, accused of stealing a motorbike in Kohima, died in the custody of an Angami group Friday.
Kohima is the capital of Nagaland and the heartland of the Angami tribe while Dimapur, about 75 km south of Kohima, is a commercial hub, bordering Assam, and predominantly Sumi.
As news of Kivika’s death spread, a mob went on a rampage attacking people in Dimapur Saturday. Ten people, including two women, were injured and public and private property, including a resort owned by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio were attacked. Rio is an Angami tribesman.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar has expressed concern over the law and order situation in Dimapur district following the death of Kivika in Kohima. Kumar appealed to both the communities to maintain calm and peace in the state.
Relating to the same incident, the BJP unit in Nagaland expressed sadness over the death of late Kivika of Keltomi village while under custody of Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) on August 31 in Kohima.
In a joint statement BJP Nagaland President Dr. M. Chuba Ao and Spokesman and General Secretary K. James Vizo condemned the action of KVYO’s Quick Response Team (QRT) that led to the death of late Kivika reiterated that no one should take the law into their own hands. Conveying condolences to the bereaved family members, BJP also demanded that those responsible be brought to book.
The statement further said that the lightning bandh in Dimapur called by Sumis to express their grievance was understandable but the action of ‘some misguided youths’ who rampaged and vandalized along the highway (NH 29) by ignoring appeals of apex Sumi organizations in the afternoon leading to unfortunate confrontation should be condemned by all right thinking citizens. (UNI)