Pre-poll violence in Longkhum village claimed one life, prompting Mokokchung authorities to impose a curfew and restrict party offices.
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MOKOKCHUNG — The SDO (Civil) and Returning Officer (RO) for Mokokchung, Nockpai Konyak, issued a statement outlining the chain of events behind the pre-poll violence that erupted in Longkhum village on April 5, which claimed one life.
According to the official account issued late night on April 6, a scuffle first broke out at around 3:00 pm on April 5 between supporters of candidate Daochier I Imchen and those of candidate Toshikaba at Longkhum village under the 28 Koridang Assembly Constituency.
Police personnel intervened swiftly and restored calm.
However, the confrontation flared up again at approximately 9:00 pm and once more at 11:00 pm. During the renewed clashes, supporters of one of the rival candidates, allegedly armed with stones, wooden poles, and other weapons, reportedly launched a sudden assault.
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They pelted stones indiscriminately and violently assaulted persons present, leaving three people with serious injuries. The victims were rushed to the District Hospital Mokokchung for emergency treatment.
One of the injured, Imrongsungba Imchen, son of Jongpongmar, a resident of Longkhum village and Artang Ward, Mokokchung town, succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a medical facility outside the district.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, and further legal action has been initiated under the relevant provisions of the law.
In response to the deteriorating law and order situation, the district magistrate of Mokokchung has imposed a night curfew and restrictions across three villages under the 28 Koridang Assembly Constituency, including Longkhum, through an order dated April 6.
In a separate directive, the SDO (Civil) and returning officer cancelled all prior permissions granted for the establishment of temporary party offices by contesting candidates at various locations within the constituency with immediate effect.
It was maintained that the order was issued in the larger public interest to restore peace and tranquillity in the assembly constituency. All concerned have been directed to comply with the order.