Students in Wokha district on Monday staged protest in the respective schools to express resentment over the alleged arrest and assault of a student in uniform on October 3.
However, despite promulgation of Section 144 CrPC by district administration in Wokha town on Monday, the three apex organizations of Wokha district- Lotha Students’ Union (LSU), Lotha Eloe Hoho (LEH), and All Nagaland Private Schools Association (ANPSA) Wokha Unit- went ahead and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Wokha demanding immediate investigation on the matter. Due to promulgation of prohibitory orders, students who were supposed to join the silent procession reportedly staged protests in their respective institutions.
In the memorandum, the three organizations demanded setting up of proper mechanism immediately, to ensure protection of students in uniform by the law enforcing agencies and responsible authorities.
Later, the three apex organizations held a joint meeting at Hornbill Hotel Wokha where they vehemently condemned the “blatant use of power and force” by DC and District Magistrate (DM) Wokha in imposing Sec. 144 Cr PC at the proposed silent procession on October 9, 2017. The signatories LSU president Lopemo M. Tsopoe, LEH president Mhonchumi Humtsoe and ANPSA Wokha unit president, Mhonyamo Ngullie termed it as “sheer curbing of our democratic rights by use of brute force and state machineries”.
They therefore, demanded satisfactory response from DC and DM to the following queries within 72 hours through print media from the date of its publication: (a) the process whereby Section 144 Cr PC was promulgated during a silent procession, (b) all minutes and details regarding apprehension of violence, reports of intended violence, and all such details so associated in arriving towards the decision for imposition of same, (c) disclosure of all details of order and directions, if any, received from external sources/higher ups for imposition of same and (d) why section 144 CrPC was imposed only towards the student’s community and not on general public, and why vehicular movement was not restricted as per the ordered issued by DC.
Failing to meet the above demands, the three organizations cautioned that DC and DM would be held solely responsible for insulting the Lotha students’ community in particular and Lothas in general and would be compelled to pursue their own course of action/s in order to safeguard and protect the rights. Further, the organizations have appealed to all rights thinking citizens/organizations to join in condemning such abuse of power by the higher authorities.
Narrating the chain of events leading up to the crisis, the three organizations stated that on October 3, 2017 one T. Rendemo Ngullie, a standard IX student of Brighter High School Wokha was reportedly arrested by police while still in uniform. After his release, he was allegedly assaulted by a group of people. In view of the above, the organizations have resolved to carry out a silent procession in Wokha town against the unethical and illegal treatment meted out to a student in uniform.
Meanwhile, in the promulgation order issued on October 8, DC and DM stated that, “in view of apprehension that miscreants may disturb the procession and create law and order problems, the office of the Deputy Commissioner… conveyed regret to the appeal for holding the silent procession”.
On the apprehension that the situation may deteriorate leading to rampage and escalate into a riot causing physical injuries and damage to properties in the town besides hindrances to normal official duties of the government offices, the prohibitory order was deemed necessary to restore the normal life of the people and restore peace and tranquility at Wokha town, the order stated. Later, the prohibitory order which was imposed on Monday from 6 a.m. “till further orders” was lifted at 2 p.m. “till further orders.”
Meanwhile, PWD Colony Council, Wokha town has expelled T. Rendemo Ngullie from the colony. An order signed by PWD Colony Council chairman Motsuthung Kikon and secretary Mhonthung Murry which was made available to Nagaland Post stated that the “PWD Colony Council comprising of Council members, Eloe Hoho and PWD Youth Organization and the public of PWD Colony during its emergency meeting on October 8, 2017 at GBs Court, and as per resolution of the Council, resolved unanimously to expel T. Rendemo Ngullie, son of Thungbemo Ngullie, village of Changsu Old, Wokha, Nagaland for the offence of umpteen purloin with immediate effect.”