Kohima: The Sumi organizations based in Zunheboto, in a rally, have served a three-day ultimatum to the NSCN (IM) collective leadership to physically hand over its erring cadres to the district administration responsible for December 21 incident while it also threatened to withdraw support and cooperation for non compliance from the date of the publication of the resolutions.
According to Sumi Hoho sources on Monday said hundreds of citizens in Zunheboto town, expressed outrage and protested against the incident at Aghuito town in the wee hours of Saturday, where four NSCN (I-M) cadres waylaid a Zunheboto- bound Tata Sumo and attempted to ‘rape’ and ‘molest’ two female passengers besides inflicting grievous injuries to two other male passengers.
Addressing a rallyon Sunday at the Police Point of Zunheboto town, Sumi Hoho President Hovishe Arkha condemned the actions carried out by the four NSCN (I-M) cadres.
He said even missionaries now faced guns purchased with the sweat and toil of the common people.
Arkha said Sumi women were the most priced and most respected by society and the act of the armed cadres, who attempted to rape and murder the two female passengers, was an utter disrespect and contempt for the entire womenfolk.
Sumi Kukami Hoho vice-president Vikuto Nurumi said such acts were never heard of in the past and the entire GBs of the Sumi community condemned it. He described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and perpetrated by people with inhuman behaviour on the Sumis.
The strongest condemnation came from SBAK (Mount Nito) youth secretary who said church workers have now become the target of errant underground cadres. He said for Christians, it was now their ‘new enemy.’
Terming the act as ‘dastardly’, the SBAK youth secretary said Sumi believers would have to give a second thought to pray for ‘national workers’ if such incidents occur in future. Sumi Totimi Hoho (STH) president Kitoli Naje termed the incident as ‘despicable’ and which should never be allowed to be inflicted upon our children.
She read out statements by the female victims, narrating the treatment meted out during their hour-long ordeal. The rally which was held under the aegis of the Sumi Hoho and other apex frontal organizations of the Sumis adopted a three-point charter of demands after the rally.
The resolutions are ‘The public at the rally resolved to urge upon the collective leadership of the NSCN (I-M), to physically hand over the four NSCN (I-M) cadres involved in the incident, to the district administration within three days from the date of publication of the resolution’; ‘In the event the NSCN (I-M) failed to comply with the resolution(No.1), the rally resolved that the Sumi community shall withdraw its cooperation and support to the NSCN (I-M)’ and ‘The rally also resolved that no individual or organization should initiate for release or extend support to the four errant cadres, while in custody of the district administration’.
The resolution was jointly affirmed by President Sumi Hoho, Hovishe Arkha; President Sumi Totimi Hoho Kitoli Naje; Vice President Sumi Kukami Hoho Vikuto Nurumi; President SKK Holuvi Chophy and SBAK Women secretary Kuholi. (UNI)
