NSCN-IM seeks explanation from police on April 20 shooting

EMN Dimapur, April 21 A day after NSCN-IM’s ‘sectional officer’Atoshe Awomi was shot at by Dimapur East Police, the Naga outfit today sought immediate explanation from the authority of Dimapur East Police as to who gave the ‘shoot at sight order’ and under whose command it was operated and the responsible person who shot at. The NSCN/GPRN also asked the state government to immediately intervene and rein in their police forces ‘if they are sincere to the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process and cease-fire agreement’. NSCN-IM in a statement said, it is ‘provoked’ by the attempted murder to one of our officer Atoshe Awomi by Dimapur East Police on April 20. “It is investigated that our officer Atoshe Awomi was shot at close range by Dimapur East Police who came in civil dress and in private vehicle around 12.20 p.m. After being shot he was handcuffed and taken away like criminal.” “What has happened will have a negative consequence breaking away from the years of tradition of creating a peaceful environment by not targeting each other and honouring the cease-fire ground rules. It has also given us the apprehension that certain changes in the Nagaland police set-up could have influenced such unwanted incident.” The statement added, collection of revenue is the inherent rights of NSCN-IM in ‘Nagalim’ and it will continue to be until such time of “negotiated settlement” with the Government of India takes place. “Any forces or elements that disturb our legitimate rights will not be tolerated. What the police should be doing at this hour is to clean up their department and stop all the rampant participation in collecting unauthorised taxation and corruption at all level.” Condemning the ‘murder attempt’ by Dimapur East Police to an ‘unarmed officer’ belonging to the government, the statement demanded that the case be thoroughly investigated by giving befitting punishment to whoever is responsible.