Rural Development department and organisations condemn threat on Kelei Zeliang

Dimapur, August 22 (EMN): The officers and staff of the Department of Rural Development along with all 1238 VDBs of the state, stand in solidarity with the secretary of the Department, Kelei Zeliang, IAS, in condemning the ‘disgusting action’ of those miscreants who have violated the premises of the secretary and cowardly threatened his family.

In a press release, the director of Rural Development Metsubo Jamir, stated that such act of intimidation and threat is unacceptable in the Naga society and the RD fraternity stand in solidarity against anyone, regardless of tribe, village or clan or organisation to whom he or she belong. The department also offered prayer and extended its support to Kelei Zeliang and also hoped that the culprit(s) are arrested and bring to justice.

ZPO: The Zeliang Peoples’ Organisation has vehemently condemned the threat meted out to the family members of Kelei Zeliang, secretary to chief minister by a group of miscreants on August 21 at their residential in Lerie Colony, Kohima. A similar incident occurred some days back with another Zeliang officer in the rank of commissioner& secretary where some miscreants came and threatened his family members of dire consequences in his absence, stated ZPO general secretary, Kerang Dumtta and press secretary Paubingai Rentta.

ZPO said they were deeply disturbed by such acts carried out by anti-social elements targeting officers from a particular community, stating that these officers are peace loving people and bonafide members of the Zeliang community without any criminal records. The officers are carrying out their duties as government officers under the Government of Nagaland and if there are issues to be addressed, the same may be taken up with the competent authority through proper channel for redressal, the press release added.

ZPO urged the government and law enforcing agencies to take up ‘Sou-Motu’ cases and book the miscreants under relevant section of the law at the earliest.

The ZPO will not sit and watch when its members are intimidated and threatened inside their own homes without rhymes or reasons, the release added.

Further, ZPO said that Naga community in general must condemn such acts of barbarism before it becomes a menace in our society.

NRDSA: The Nagaland Rural Development Service Association (NRDSA) has strongly condemned the threat meted out to the secretary of RD, Kelei Zeliang, IAS, and his family by some armed miscreant(s) on the evening of August 21. “This dastardly demonstration of intimidation and threat to life is an act of cowardice which is unacceptable and intolerable in our society and the association condemns this act in the highest level,” the press release stated. While conveying its support and solidarity to the secretary, NRDSA also requested the concerned authority to identify and book the culprit(s) at the earliest and bring them to justice.

ZSUN: The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN) has vehemently condemned threatening of life of ‘one of the most respected bureaucrat among the Zeliangrong community,’ Kelei Zeliang, secretary to chief minister and Rural Development and family and threatening of destruction of properties in the evening of August 21, by unidentified miscreant(s). The union said such action is unbecoming in the civilised modern society. While expressing desire for peaceful society, progressive and prosperous nation, the ZSUN called upon all right thinking citizens to condemn the act. Further, the union urged the concerned authority to book the culprit(s) at the earliest and bring justice for the betterment of the society.

NSVDB: The Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDB) has vehemently condemned the barbaric and uncivilised incident that took place on the night of August 21, where armed miscreant(s) intruded the home of secretary of Rural Development of Kelie Zeliang, IAS and cowardly threatened the defenseless members of the family.

“We are shocked at the level of degradation of the said “boss” who stoops so low in demanding apologies at gun point and demand to know who that is so called Boss. If the perpetrator or the boss is a true Naga, we urge him to proudly declare his identity before the general public to avoid further scapegoat,” stated the press release.

In a release, NSVDBA president Tohoshe Awomi and general secretary, Manthungo Kikon stated that the association as an apex body of all the 1238 villages in the State appealed the law enforcement agency to immediately identify and book the culprit(s) so that befitting punishment can be accorded to those miscreants.

NSVDBA also urged the village authorities not to protect those coward miscreants in any manner whatsoever. Further, the association also appealed the department of RD to consider imposing sanctions to those villages if found giving shelter to such miscreants as it tarnishes the image of the society at large.

NLSF: The Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) has vehemently condemned the August 21 incident, where some miscreant(s) threatened secretary to Rural Development, Kelie Zeliang and his family. “Such senseless act should not be practice by any good citizens of the state when the people yearn for peace and tranquility and such act should be condemned by all,” said NLSF. Further, the federation appealed the law enforcing agency to look into the matter seriously and give befitting punishment.

AZSU (AMN): The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union Assam, Manipur & Nagaland (AMN) has strongly condemned the intimidation meted out to Kelei Zeliang, secretary of Rural Development and chief minister on August 21 by unidentified armed miscreant(s) at Kohima.

The union termed the act as barbaric and uncivilised in the modem society, which has brought shame and shocked to the Naga society. The union also urged upon the law enforcing agencies to investigate and bring the culprit(s) to book at the earliest.

SZOK: The Southern Zeme Organization Kohima (SZOK) has expressed shock at the intimidation and threatening to the family members and properties of Kelei Zeliang IAS, secretary to chief minister and department of Rural Development, on August 21 around 5:30 p.m.

Chairman of SZOK, Amos Pame, stated that it has come to know that four goons with concealed weapon barged into the private residence at Lerie Chazou, Kohima, and ask for him, to which the family members responded in affirmative as he is out of station. When the family members inquired about their visit, they threatened and warned the family present with dire consequences even to the extent of killing him and destroying the family properties, if he doesn’t tender an apology to their boss without revealing the name.

The SZOK is disheartened to know such elements still exist in this modern generation.

“By their act, it is crystal clear that they are planned with to create misunderstanding and confusions within and also to derail the hard earn peace and unity among our Naga community,” the release added.

The SZOK urged the concerned authority to take the matter seriously and bring the culprits to book at the earliest and award a befitting punishment as per the law of the land.

The SZOK condemned such coward and ‘goondaism’ act which is an alien to the Naga society and appealed those responsible to refrain from such senseless act in future. futher , the organization assured to stand for the truth with the family in particular and Nagas in general for the betterment of the people.