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Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): Lotha Hoho (LH) has strongly condemned the excess of the Nagaland personnel enforcing the Covid-19 lockdown in which Dr. Mungshithung Murry was mercilessly assaulted at Wokha town on April 17.
The hoho recalled the consultative meeting on April 15 wherein it had urged the district administration and police departments to apprise the jawans to maintain discipline while on duty during the lockdown.
Pointing out that none had forced them but they themselves have chosen to join the profession on their own volition and for which they are paid salary accordingly for performing duty, the hoho said the former should not claim extra credit for performing their duty. Also pointing out that employees in other professions are also performing duty according to their calling, the hoho stated that police personnel are not doing any extra favour to anyone.
Quoting eye witnesses and onlookers, the hoho stated that the errant police personnel were under the influence of alcohol which was testified by video clip.
“If the doctor had violated any lockdown-rules, he could have been arrested and tried as per the laid down rules; but definitely cannot be beaten up on the spot by the policemen,” the hoho chairman Mhondamo Ovung and general secretary Aben Ngullie stated.
The hoho has sought to know if the controlling authority had empowered the policemen on duty to use force and violence to maintain Covid-19 lockdown. Stating the fight against Covid-19 pandemic relates to human/ social calamity and not law and order problem, the hoho has termed it ‘stupid to fight among ourselves behind the battlefront.’
It said the policemen are expected to assist, guide, protect and cooperate with the public in maintaining social distancing, which is the main purpose of the lockdown. Under such a circumstance, the hoho stated that police personnel should not use their stick to beat as though they are enforcing CrPC 144 during a breakdown of law and order.
It mentioned that the hoho had mobilised public support immediately after the incident for an action against the erring personnel but was made to learn that the issue was amicably settled.
However, the hoho has urged the concerned authorities to identify each of the police personnel involved and take disciplinary action as deemed fit. Cautioning that repetition of such inhuman behaviour would not be tolerated by the Lotha public, the hoho advised the police personnel to maintain discipline by keeping in mind that they are public servants performing paid duty.