Kiphire violence: Tensions remain beneath surface

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 5: Two days into the reported violence between the Sumi and the Sangtam community over use of nomenclature, situation in Kiphire district is said to be under control.
The president of Singti Ruhsah Student’s Union (SRSU), Atingse told Eastern Mirror on Friday that the 21st general session of SRSU which was scheduled to be held on Jan. 3 2018 onwards was disrupted where seven houses, including granaries belonging to the Sangtam community, were burned down completely.
However, despite the tension, the flag hosting ceremony of the 21st general session of SRSU was conducted peacefully on the morning of Jan. 4, according to Atingse. The seven families who were rendered homeless are taking shelter at their relatives’ place, and the injured person identified as Seotung – aged around 70, who sustained injury in head and left shoulder – has been shifted to Kohima for treatment, he informed.
“We have always followed the government notification on the use of nomenclature and used ‘Sitimi’ for official purpose. Likewise ‘Singti’ which is allowed to be used for social/religious gathering was used for our 21st general session,” he said while maintaining that since inception of the village it has been called ‘Singti’.
Lamenting over the Sumi community moving out of Sitimi village, he asserted “we did not tell anyone or the Sumi community to move out of the village.”
United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) president, Thrikyuse Sangtam said that the USSC – which is the apex student body or United Sangtam Likhum Bumji (USLB) – will not interfere in the issue as it is a misunderstanding within the village and not a communal conflict, and it should be sorted out amicably between them.
“There should not be a commotion out of their misunderstanding and settle it amicably,” Sangtam conveyed. While confirming that few of the Sumi community residing in Kiphire district have moved out on their own, Sangtam said ‘neither the USSC nor USLB will interfere in the matter but let the law enforcing agency take care of the situation’.
Role of Kiphire administration questioned
The SRSU also issued a press release expressing strong resentment at the Kiphire district administration for its alleged failure to provide security during the incident.
The press note from SRSU claimed ‘attack on Sangtam community using highly sophisticated weapon on Jan, 3, 2018 in Sitimi village, where seven houses, six granaries were completely burned down where one person was also injured in the bullet firing is the direct result of the complete failure on the part of district administration’.
“The district administration was made completely aware in advance of the prevailing situation in Sitimi village. However, no elaborate security measures were taken to safeguard the life and property inspire of ground reality”, it further stated.
The union further wondered “why no action/enquiry has been initiated against Shikatoli Aye till date who has posted on 31 December 2017 in social media group ‘Naga Jester’ claiming war was going to take place between Sumi and Sangtam”.
According to the SRSU, “had the (Kiphire) district administration been sensitive and conduct (sic) enquiry situation would not have spiralled out. Inability and inefficiency of district administration has facilitated total breakdown of law and order”.
It demanded replacement of the incumbent deputy commissioner while asking the state government to ‘immediately rehabilitate the affected families and provide adequate security in Sitimi village’.