April 25 killing: Kohima youths caution blood-mongers

Assam Rifles lauded for not retaliating; sympathy for slain ‘jawan’

EMN
Dimapur, April 27

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he anger against the recent violence in Dimapur and Kohima perpetrated by non-state actors and– whose actions have often have landed the innocent public in trouble–continues to grow slowly among the masses, especially the tired Naga youth.
In the face of a nonexistent government and the recent spate of unchecked violence even in the state’s capital, Kohima town, the anger can only be tapped soon if currently-raw sentiments are anything to be considered.
Even before the condemnations for the series of bomb explosions and attack on security forces in civilian areas had stopped, Kohima town was rocked yet again by the killing of an Assam Rifle soldier on April 25. The killing was carried out reportedly by members of the underground group NSCN-K.A youth organization in Kohima issued a press release on Monday issuing a strong warning against disturbing the peace of the civilian populations.
The Officers’ Hill Youth Organization (OHYO) issued a note on April 27 taking serious note of the “firing and lobbing of the grenade” on the fateful day near Classic Island of Officers’ Hill Colony in Kohima town. A member of the Assam Rifles was shot and later succumbed to his injury. The rifleman was identified as Vijay Singh Rawat, a rifleman of ‘E’ company of the 19th Assam Rifle.
The Officers’ Hill Youth Organization sternly warned those involved ‘in the recent incident’ against disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the colony. The organization questioned the perpetrators ‘on which they have to act in such a drastic way when the public are yearning for peace’.
The Officers’ Hill Youth Organization condemned the outrageous act of the perpetrators and regretted that the killing took place “in our jurisdiction despite of several appeals made to various factions to refrain from such activities within our jurisdiction”.
While warning against such attempts in the future, the Officers’ Hill Youth Organization expressed gratitude to the Assam Rifles for not retaliating keeping in mind that the area had public populations. The organization also expressed condolences for the members of the bereaved family of the slain soldier.
“The OHYO appreciates the thoughtful action of the Assam Rifles for not retaliating the attack keeping in view the well-being of the public. The OHYO regrets the incident and expresses its condolences to the bereaved family,” the statement stated.
APO opposes violence in Angami land
The apex tribal organization representing the Angami Naga community also issued a statement denouncing the attack. The Angami Public Organization (APO) condemned what the tepid statement called “firing incident” that took place in broad day light where the rifleman was shot dead by NSCN-K cadres.
The leadership of the Angami Public Organization expressed “its displeasure of such act of violence in a civilized society”. The statement asserted that the “APO stands for peace, unity and development”.
The organization stated that it “strongly opposes any kind of violence within the Angami traditional boundary disturbing the peaceful co- existence of the society”.
The statement also expressed appreciation for the Assam Rifles who chose not to retaliate keeping in mind that there were innocent members of the public around.
“The APO appreciated the jawans of the 19 Assam Rifles who restrain themselves from retaliation in public area during the incident. The organization expresses deep sympathy for the bereaved family and pray that the Almighty God grant them solace and peace,” the APO stated.
The APO has asked all the “insurgent/ Naga political groups to restrain themselves from this kind of violence in civil populated areas”.