Various organizations including the NDPP, NTC have condemned the killing of three persons along Dimapur-Peren border area on March 22.
NDPP: Condemning the incident, NDPP expressed concern that instead of approaching the administration and law enforcing agencies to adjudicate disputes and misunderstandings, people chose to take law into their own hands and resorted to “cold-blooded killings”. Demanding that law enforcing agencies must go after the culprits and book them as per the laws of the land, NDPP also urged the state government to restore supremacy of the law so that citizens could live without fear in their own land.
NDPP further appealed to all and sundry to abide by the law and, more importantly, adhere to Christian ethics while dealing with their fellow brethren, abjure violence of any kind and live and let live. It also urged all right-thinking people to refrain from giving a communal touch to this ugly incident and insisted that perpetrators of this barbaric deed, no matter to which community they belong, should be brought to justice at the earliest so that justice reigned supreme.
NDPP said that the Naga society must make genuine efforts towards real peace and work towards more understanding so that the aspiration of lasting peace was achieved. It also called upon Nagas to rise above smaller divisions and work towards real Naga unity, adding “only then can we move forward towards realising our aspirations.” The party conveyed its heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved families.
NTC: Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) said it was saddened at the brutal killing of three people.
NTC president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie said the incident not only sent shock waves across the State and beyond, but recurrent use of fire arms to eliminate God’s precious lives without any reservation shattered the minds of peace-loving people and filled them with gloominess.
NTC pointed out that there were sufficient laws – both Naga customary practices and other written laws – for settlement of any misunderstanding or dispute, but not at the cost of human lives.
While condemning the act of taking laws into one’s own hand and exhibiting gun culture when the people of Nagaland were yearning for peace, NTC urged law enforcing agencies to enforce the rule of law and book the culprits.
The council also conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty God to grant them strength to withstand the unbearable grief and sadness, besides praying for the departed souls to rest in peace.
FNR: In connection with the March 22 incident, Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) said it was saddened and disturbed by the design and acts of violence and questioned the integrity of those who generated such a situation of return to the past dark ages.
“What should matter most today is whether Nagas are practitioner of deeds who have come of age and whose values reflect good reason coupled with a sense of resolving conflict through dialogue and most importantly, practicing our confessed faith in Christ,” FNR said.
It said as would be, in a climate of change, old ways were breaking down and indigenous peoples are establishing new relationships across ideological and traditional lines.
FNR said Lamhainamdi incident has become an urgent historical occasion for a renewal of people-hood and biblical faith. “We must immediately, put an end to Lamhainamdi from becoming evil to multiply a haunting memory for both perpetrators and victims,” it said.
“Let not Lamhainamdi tell the generations of Nagas without hope, opportunity, and pride, but of brutality and shame if they are not recognized and resisted by all urgently,” FNR stated.
FNR further said that it would be a cheap conciliation the cries of person-hood and reconciliation is not based upon painful truth and a painful process of repentance. “Nagas people must all expose all forms of Lamhainamdis and resolve constructively,” it added.
SNUNS: Southern Nagas Union of Nagaland State (SNUNS) has expressed deep dismay over the recent incident at Lamhainamdi where unidentified miscreants killed three persons creating communal tension.
In a press release, SNUNS president SaniiPutukho and secretary KashungnaoWorshim said it was “unbelievable” that such delirious act within the Naga brotherhood has caused severe damage including loss of life. The union urged all responsible to stay away from all kinds of violence.
The union also conveyed condolences to the members of bereaved families.