Kohima: The SIT constituted to probe killing of nine persons, whose highly decomposed bodies were found blindfolded with hands tied and shot from close range in a gorge in Dimapur, began its probe on Sunday, with police still trying to establish the identities of eight victims.
In its first meeting during the day, the Special Investigation Team discussed among other issues, the process of investigation and motive for the murder, Additional SP of Dimapur and a member of the SIT, Watichuchang Jamir said.
The bodies were discovered stacked atop each other at Pachaspura on Friday.
One of the nine victims had been identified as the secretary of Karbi Students’ Association Bokajan Branch, Harlongbi Ingti on Saturday, he said. Jamir said he was hopeful that the identities of the other victims would be established by Sunday evening.
Dimapur SP V Z Angami had on Saturday said that the corpses were covered with a polythene sheet over which some boulders were placed and it was suspected that the victims might have been killed over a week ago as the bodies were decomposed beyond recognition.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio ordered constitution of the SIT and a High Power Enquiry Committee to inquire into the murder Saturday night, chief minister’s secretary L Kire said in a release.
Rio also appealed to the people to remain calm and maintain peace and extend assistance to the investigating agencies. Chief
Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir said in a notification that a High Power Enquiry Committee (HPEC) headed by Secretary to Justice and Law Department, K N Chishi with Joint Secretary (Home) T Roy and DC, Commissioner’s Office Vikiye Kenye as members was constituted to probe the matter.
The government has directed the HPEC to inquire into the incident and suggest remedial measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur, he said. (PTI)
High security on Assam-Nagaland border
Guwahati: Seventeen additional companies of security forces were deployed along the Assam-Nagaland border after the police recovered nine bodies in the area and unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately, killing one person and injuring another, police Sunday said.
Following the recovery of the bodies Friday night from an area near Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur, unidentified assailants fired indiscriminately at a place near Khatkhati in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district Saturday evening.
“While yesterday (Saturday) one of the nine bodies recovered in Dimapur was identified, another four bodies have been identified today (Sunday),” said Dimapur Superintendent of Police V.Z. Angami.
“All the five victims identified by their family members were from Bokajan area,” he said.
The victims had gone missing Dec 28.
Meanwhile, Assam intensified security in and around Bokajan area in Karbi Anglong.
“A total of 17 companies of additional forces have been deployed in Bokajan and other troubled areas along the Assam-Nagaland border,” said Assam Commissioner (Home) G.D. Tripathy. “We have taken all preventive measures so that there is no backlash,” he said.
Night curfew, imposed in the Bokajan subdivision since Saturday night, continued Sunday.
The incidents since Friday are being seen as the fallout of recent clashes between Karbi militants and Rengma Nagas in Karbi Anglong. At least six people – four Nagas and two Karbi militants – were killed and over 50 houses torched in clashes around Chokihola on Dec 27. (IANS)