Principal Correspondent
Kohima, March 26
Four Assam Rifles jawans were injured, one critically, as unidentified armed miscreants fired upon them near Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima below the Company Operating Base (COB) of 19 Assam Rifles here today. Sources revealed that the four jawans, including three havildars and one rifleman, were reportedly unarmed and waiting for the AR bus coming from Tsiesema (5 Sector) and to head on leave when five armed miscreants on a moving Maruti car fired upon them with assault rifle and small arms before fleeing from the site at around 7:30 am.
The injured were immediately rushed to different hospitals in Kohima, where three of the injured are reported to be out of danger despite bullet injuries on their legs, arms and stomach, but one of the havildars sustaining severe injury on the face was airlifted to Kolkata in the afternoon.
Immediately after the incident, security forces and police cordoned the area and tried to locate the attackers but to no avail, sources said, adding that police on conducting the search of the incident spot recovered four empty cases of AK- 47, five empty cases of 9 mm pistol, one AK bullet head and one 9 mm bullet head.
In this connection, sources said a criminal case has been registered.
It may be mentioned here that an army convoy heading for Imphal from Dimapur on getting the information of attack on Assam Rifles jawans took refuge at Zubza village with their vehicles parked on the village roads several hours. Sources said that the convoy moved for the destiny only after confirming that situation became normal.
Organisations condemn
NAPO: The Northern Angami Public Organisation (NAPO) has expressed shock and dismay over the firing incident that occurred near IG stadium, Kohima falling under its jurisdiction. In a release, NAPO general secretary, Zhasalie Soliezuo stated that “in a populated area where peace and harmony prevail, such callous act of random firing and endangering the life of the populace is unacceptable to the Northern Angamis and the organisation strongly condemns the incident”.
The NAPO also requested all right thinking Naga citizens to condemn such act of thoughtlessness which jeopardize peace in the society. The NAPO has sought the immediate intervention of the law enforcing authority to initiate action against the culprits so as to let peace and justice prevail in the Naga society,
AYO: Angami Youth Organization (AYO) vehemently condemning the shootout unarmed AR jawans in civvies said the ‘dastardly act’ has also greatly traumatized the students lodged in the Sports Academy of IG stadium, defiling the sanctity of the sports institution as well as causing damages, and the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the village (Meriema) and Kohima town.
AYO vice president Kekhrievolie Keyho and general secretary Rokuoketou Sechü said the act perpetrated ‘is not tolerable and loathsome’. If the assailants mean real business proper ‘rules of engagement’ must be adhered to and uphold and public places and institutions not be opted for execution of such acts.
AYO also reiterated its stand and commitment on the lives and security of the people and property under its jurisdiction; its area and land will not be used as a place that demean human lives and property under whatsoever circumstances.
The organization then urged the law enforcing and security agencies to set up more stringent security measures and not to go soft with anti social elements and miscreants. The AYO also maintained that with increasing spate of violence in and around the state, the Government of Nagaland must wake up from its slumber and gear up with its resources and machineries to uphold the rule of law and in protecting the lives of its citizens.
NAYO: The Northern Angami Youth Organization (NAYO) has strongly condemned the shooting of unarmed personnel of Bravo Company, 19 Assam Rifles by unidentified gunmen, on the roadside near IG Stadium, Kohima. “NAYO is pained by this incident and begs all those under conflict to spare no effort in ensuring that civilians do not become victims of such armed attacks,” the release stated.
The organization called upon the unidentified shooters to immediately stop further acts of such aggression. While wishing full and speedy recovery to the injured jawans under critical care, NAYO also requested the concerned paramilitary force for restraint in their follow up operations to ascertain the identity of the assailants and their capture. According to NAYO, many civilians at the site managed to escape death, including sports hostellers of IG Stadium who were in the vicinity during the incident.
