Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) constituted by the state government to probe the July 16, 2015 Wuzu firing incident on Monday said that the question of delay in submitting the report was wrong and sought to clarify apprehensions and displeasure expressed by civil society organisations during “candlelight service” held at Kohima on July 15, 2016.
In a press release, JIC secretary, K. Naben, asserted that the commission constituted vide Nagaland government notification dated November 13, 2015 initiated the process of enquiry and some witnesses filled written statements were also received but found those written statements not in proper order.
In the meantime, JIC said that the government vide letter dated December 9, 2015 demanded that the report of the Dimapur jail breaking incident and lynching case be submitted first. Therefore, it said the Wuzu firing incident investigation process was put off and jail breaking incident report was finally submitted on March 9, 2016.
Further, JIC stated that the then secretary to the commission resigned in the month of April 2016 and the new secretary could be posted/attached only on May 10, 2016. Subsequently, JIC said the commission undertook a tour to Meluri on June 17, 2016 and held a press conference in the Dobashi’s Court of Meluri headquarters on June 18, 2016, which was attended by all the administrative and police officers, public leaders of Pochury Hoho, Pochury Mothers’ Association, Phokungri Area Public Organisation, Pochury Students Union, Pochury Youth Association, village leaders of both Wuzu and Phor, parents of the deceased victims, injured women besides media persons.
At the press conference, it said the commission sensitised the administrative and police officers based at Meluri and leaders of various Pochury organisations to come forward with written statements in the form of affidavits. It said all leaders also assured full cooperation to Judicial Inquiry Commission.
Accordingly, JIC said a public notice was served dated June 20, 2016 notifying that within a period of one month’s time the witnesses were supposed to file the written statements in affidavits to the office of JIC. The date of filing written statements is to be on or before July 20, 2016.
Therefore, the commission said “the question of delay in submitting the report by JIC does not hold water”. Meanwhile, JIC has requested stakeholders to bear with the commission and extend cooperation for early submission of the report.
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