Thousands gather at Zunheboto ground Saturday. (R) Volunteers in a convoy proceeding towards Mukalimi camp. (Pics: Sumi Kukuputsa)[/caption]Tension in Zunheboto cascaded throughout Nagaland when one person was killed and at least three others injured after the NSCN (I-M) cadres inside Mukalimi camp in Ghathashi area reportedly opened fire to prevent over 10,000 Sumi volunteers from carrying out the public resolution to flush out NSCN (I-M) from Sumi areas.
Unconfirmed reports however put the figure at two killed and four injured, including a female. One of the deceased was reportedly identified as Paketo Swu, a civilian from Khuwaboto Colony in Zunheboto town. There were reports of exchange of fire between the Sumi public volunteers and the NSCN (I-M) cadres inside Mukalimi camp.
Four columns of Assam Rifles were rushed to Muklimi to prevent the situation from worsening.
The ire of the Sumi public was sparked by the failure of the NSCN (I-M) in acceding to the three-point demand among which included the handing over to the district administration of the accused NSCN (I-M) cadres involved in the December 21 assault and sexual molestation on two female missionaries and physical assault on other passengers of a Tata Sumo at Aghuito town near Zunehboto town.
On Thursday, thousands of people some armed with sticks, spears and daos reiterated their demand on the NSCN (I-M) to produce the cadres at the rally and also warned the leaders of Sumi frontal organisation of serious consequences if concrete decision against the NSCN (I-M) was not taken.
On Saturday, over three thousand volunteers , made up of 25 from every Sumi village armed with daos, spears, SBBL and DBBL guns and other weapons thronged the local ground in Zunheboto and later drove in trucks, pick up trucks and other vehicles and laid siege on the NSCN (I-M) camp in Mukalimi. It was learnt that most villages sent more than 25 while other villages sent around 100 volunteers in response to the call made on December 26.
On Friday home minister G. Kaito Aye accompanied by parliamentary secretaries Pukhayi Sumi and Vikheho Swu flew in to Zunheboto by chopper and held close door meeting with the Sumi frontal organisations at “Sumi Hoho Ki” located at Old Town Colony.
However the meeting was interrupted by the mob that had gathered outside the Hall and began pelting stones and sticks causing damage to the building. Youths carried placards some of which read “We don’t pay tax to buy guns for you to molest our women,” “No compromise, Enough is enough,” “NSCN (I-M), leave our land,” “We don’t want Mafiaism in our land” and “Justice first, solution later.” The crowd shouted slogans and disrupted the meeting suspecting that certain compromises were being arrived at. They also demanded that the home minister address them in public.
It was only after the minister addressed the crowd that the mob dispersed from the venue.
~NP
No comments:
Post a Comment