Naga village calls NSCN-K ‘hateful’ for firing on women

Kohima: A village in Tuensang has called the armed underground group NSCN (K) ‘hateful’ for its cadres opening gunfire when former chairperson of Nagaland State Social Welfare Board Rhakila Lakiumong was in proximity having conversations with some people.
The Thsotokur Village Council, under Tuensang district, issued a press statement on Thursday denouncing the alleged act of the NSCN (K).
According to the statement, the cadres of the group are said to have opened ‘blank shot of revolver just at the back’ of Rhakila Lakiumong at a certain Helipong junction in Helipong village on the stated date.
An attempt was made on Rhakila’s life by some NSCN (K) cadres at Helipong Junction on November 22 at around 9 am. Ms. Rhakila Lakiumong, wife of former Minister late A. Lakiumong and two-time candidate for the Nagaland Assembly elections, is also a former political candidate of the ruling Naga Peoples’ Front and BJP.
The Thsotokur Village Council has demanded from the authorities of the armed group clarifications ‘as to why Rhakila Lakiumong was being targetted.’
The council has also demanded action from the group’s authorities, including ‘quantum of penalty’ against the cadres for their act. The village has demanded that the group respond within 15 days from the publication of the press statement.
According to the council, the incident happened while she was conversing with some people of Helipong village.
‘As a matter of fact, gun is not a puppet to be played with to one’s whims and fancies, therefore unless there is an element of some motives present in the mind it is suppose to be kept under complete control by its possessors and to that extent the erring cadres are fully aware of as well,’ the village council said.
Thsotokur Village Council stated further that the blank shot was ‘without any rhyme or provocation.’
The village has demanded a response ‘along with the quantum of penalty against the erring cadres.’
This must be intimated to the village council within 15 days time with effect from the date of publication of this note. Failing to meet the demands would mean that the village would ‘withdraw all forms of cooperation towards NSCN (K),’ the release said. (UNI)