Situation in Wokha Town 38 Assembly constituency (AC) was reportedly becoming tense following frequent incidents of pre-poll violence. At least four such incidents were reported from the area on Saturday and Sunday.
Security forces in Wokha were reportedly under pressure to bring the situation under control by patrolling sensitive areas.
When contacted, Wokha Police informed Nagaland Post that JD (U) youth wing president sustained injuries after a clash erupted between supporters of various candidates at Church Colony around 4-4:30 pm on February 11.
In the same evening, unknown miscreants torched one vehicle (Mahindra Bolero) at PWD Colony. The police said the vehicle was parked inside compound with concrete walls adjacent to national highway.
The police said IRB jawans were patrolling the area when they saw the fire and immediately alerted the people around to douse it. The gate was reportedly left open when the situation occurred.
They mentioned that the case was under investigation and things could not be ascertained till the time of filing the report. The vehicle reportedly belonged to a relative of one intending candidate.
Police said supporters of the candidate gathered at the police station demanding immediate arrest of those involved in burning the vehicle the previous night, even as JD (U) supporters from 37 AC staged a dharna at the site demanding release of one of their arrested members.
Othe other hand, supporters of two rival parties of Wokha Town constituency clashed, leading to injuries on both the sides, while one Maruti Gypsy parked near the BJP candidate’s residence was damaged and also smashed some windowpanes of the BJP candidate.
The police said that they had been tirelessly putting all efforts to maintain peace and appealed to the citizens to shun violence.
BJP Wokha reacts: Meanwhile, reacting to a report of a local TV channel, BJP media cell of 38 Wokha AC has clarified that there was no evidence to the allegation that a government registered vehicle (Mahindra Bolero) was burned down by supporters of the opponent candidate.
It alleged that the vehicle’s registration number was deliberately omitted in the video dip shown in a local TV channel and its report was purely one-sided without any substantial inputs from law enforcing agency.
BJP said the fourth pillar of democracy was expected to deliver factual reports without any bias or favouritism by ensuring that the reports were not misleading and did not ignite hatred and violence, especially during such crucial period.
The party claimed that the vehicle that was reportedly burned within the well-maintained security wall of the compound was at the centre of the town.
It pointed out that as the incident occurred after the security personnel had arrived in the area, there was no chance for the mob to vandalise any property, let alone burn down the vehicle, in the presence of the security forces.
Condemning the unfounded statement, the media cell further cautioned media groups to verify the news before publishing/telecasting such sensitive news.
