March 5 incident: Number of arrested rises to 54

Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nagaland Police has arrested two more persons Saturday in connection with the March 5 violence in Dimapur.
Addl. SP & PRO, Dimapur police K. Shouka said police arrested two more persons on Saturday, taking the total head count to 54.
Police are still on the look out for several others involved in the March 5 violent incidents and lynching who are believed to be in hiding or fled from Dimapur. Police, however exuded confidence that those involved would soon be arrested. It may be recalled, that Police had issued two batches of its ‘Look Out Notice’ of suspects wanted in this connection, which were widely published in the local media. .
IGP (Range) Wabang Jamir, IPS, revealed that the arrested “ringleaders” have divulged more information about persons who were not seen in video clips and pictures. Photographs released by police have also been sent to police stations in other districts.
Nagaland government has also moved Centre for seeking ban on Facebook pages– Naga Blog and Naga Spear.
Wabang said that the Information & Broadcasting ministry has asked the Nagaland government to re-apply with screenshots of objectionable pages. The government would be doing so at the earliest, he said.
Earlier, Wabang said “several of those arrested had admitted that they communicated with each other through social media, in particular Facebook pages administered by Nagas -Naga Blog and Naga Spears
The videos and photographs had gone viral on social media, which prompted the government to bar SMS, MMS and mobile internet services in Nagaland.
Though all services were restored, yet till Saturday evening, SMS and mobile internet service network was very slow since most of the major service providers were also affected by the blackout.
Wabang appealed to the public to provide information about the suspects by contacting at +918730957050 or e-mail at sitdp2015@gmail.com. He also assured that absolute confidentiality would be maintained.
Earlier, there was confusion on the number of escaped convicts belonging to underground cadre.
Official sources on March 5 admitted that of three who escaped, one of them was re-arrested the same day.
Meanwhile, revocation of Section 144 Cr.PC in Dimapur was received with mixed feelings among the citizens. It may be recalled, that district magistrate Dimapur Kesonyü Yhome, IAS had revoked prohibitory orders from March 13 in view of improvement of the situation in Dimapur.
While some welcomed the revocation , others felt that the prohibitory orders could have continued for another month between 9 p.m. till 6 a.m.
Those in favour of the continuance during the night felt that it was required since it acted as a strong deterrent against hordes of anti-social elements roaming at night.
What happened in Dimapur on March 5 has shocked and shamed the state while the images of the incident continue to haunt the people of Dimapur. The image of Clock Tower Junction, referred as Dimapur’s Jantar Mantar, the venue of public rallies, music and prayer programmes, has been damaged. Today it stands as a mute symbol of hatred that culminated in a horrific scene on March 5.