Through combined efforts of the district administration, police and various NGOs, the tense situation that prevailed in Wokha town following Thursday night’s violence between 41 Assam Rifles personnel and Wokha public, was reportedly brought under control Friday around 2:30 a.m.
DC Wokha A. Wopen Lotha in a press release said to normalize the situation, the DIG AR 5 Sector reached Wokha Friday and had a joint meeting with district administration, police, Kyong Hoho, Kyong Eloe Hoho, Kyong Students’ Union and 41 Assam Rifles.
“All the speakers insisted that the culprits involved in causing the unwarranted situation ought to be identified, caught and exemplary punishment be meted out to them. It was also suggested that the AR should immediately stop selling liquor to the local populace and also not to allow/entertain any young boys and girls inside the Camp,” the release said.
There were also suggestions that the present 41 AR BN stationed at Wokha should be immediately shifted/transferred out to maintain status-quo and to ensure that no such untoward incident takes place in future, the release added.
Stating that the situation was still tense but under control, the DC said the Wokha district administration was facing shortage of armed personnel as many policemen were reportedly deployed for duty in Kohima.
The DC further said it was very unfortunate that the incident happened during Tokhu Emong, the most important and biggest festival of the Lothas, and which hurt the sentiments of the entire Lotha populace. It may be mentioned the Miss Tokhu beauty pageant, a part of the Tokhu Emong celebrations in Wokha town, was marred by violence, forcing the organizers to cancel the pageant in the final moment Thursday night at Wokha local ground.
Sources said a scuffle between some youths and AR personnel outside the venue, adjacent to the 41 Assam Rifles, led to full-scale violence in which AR personnel and public pelted stones at each other. The AR also resorted to blank firing in an effort to control the situation. (Full report on page 4)
AR orders probe
Taking serious note of Thursday’s incident in Wokha, the Assam Rifles authorities have ordered a high level inquiry to investigate into the entire episode and assured to take stern action against erring AR personnel, if found guilty. PRO, IGAR (N), Maj Pallab Choudhury in a press release said DIG HQ Nagaland Range (South) personally visited the site Friday and interacted with civil officials and other prominent members of Wokha town for preliminary fact finding and to take stock of the situation.
Maj Gen J P Nehra, IGAR (N), also conveyed his solidarity to the Lotha Community and expressed regrets about the unwarranted incident, the release said. “Army and Assam Rifles stand committed for the people of Nagaland and may Almighty keep a benign eye on the Lothas and make the Tokhu Emong celebrations a grand success,” the release added.
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