Showroom shooting: PAC gives govt. week to bring in gunmen

Dimapur, Nov. 22 (EMN): The Public Action Committee (PAC) of the Naga Council of Dimapur has issued an ultimatum to the government authorities to nab the felons responsible for the shooting at a Honda showroom in Dimapur. The PAC met on Nov. 21 and took a number of decisions as a course of action, a press release from the civil platform stated. Among them, the PAC has requested community and village authorities in Dimapur to mobilise youths in their areas. The PAC has demanded that the government arrest the felons involved in the shooting at Riven Honda showroom at River Belt Colony in Dimapur, within seven days from the issue of this press release. Failing to do so will invite a 12-hour complete strike from 5 am to 5 pm on Nov. 30 in Dimapur district, the press release stated. The organisation has stated that the culprits are ‘suspected’ to be from the underground groups. The PAC has demanded identification of the felons and that they should be ‘terminated with immediate effect.’ “The DUCCF and the Dimapur District Village Council Chairman Union are requested to organise youths in their respective areas to check and control unwanted elements which is on the rise,” the organisation stated in another resolution. The PAC has also demanded that the government deploy additional security forces for Dimapur ‘to contain the present situation of illegal collection by the NPGs and various organizations.’ “No organizations and welfare unions are to ask for donations and sale of any items from shop to shop and shop keepers are not to entertain such activities. Further, the Nagaland government is also asked to enact laws ‘where a criminal will be non-bailable for at least one calendar year similar to that of Maharastra laws which will contain the criminals activities in the State.’ “The business community are informed to install CCTV in their respective shop and premises with immediate effect for controlling criminal activities,” the PAC added. Outraged Dimapur cries foul at Honda shooting Community and business organisations in Dimapur have expressed anger at the shooting incident at a business establishment in Dimapur on Tuesday evening. Unidentified felons are said to have opened fire at a Honda showroom. No casualty was reported. The Business Association of Nagas (BAN), Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Ralan Area Lotha Hoho, and the Sumi Council of Dimapur issued separate statements on Thursday denouncing the criminal act. The BAN and the DCCI issued a joint statement on Thursday denouncing the firing at the Honda showroom, said to be owed by a businesswoman, near the Nuton Bosti junction on Tuesday evening. “It is unfortunate that women are also not spared by anti-socials to meet their selfish demands. We urge Dimapur police to apprehend the culprits at the earliest and give them befitting punishment as per law,” the organisations stated. “BAN and DCCI will not remain mute spectators to the dastardly acts and frequent demands as we are entrusted with the responsibility to safeguard interests of the business community.” The two organisations affirmed to stand by the October 31 public rally resolutions adopted by public action committee of the Naga Council; and that they would will fully support the initiatives of the committee. “To check untoward incidents business establishments should install CCTV cameras and at least one camera outside their shops and extortion demands should be instantly informed to the law enforcing agencies,” the two groups stated. RALH Likewise, the Ralan Area Lotha Hoho (RALH) denounced the firing ‘by unidentified motorcycle borne gunmen.’ The RALH stated in a press release to the media on Thursday asking ‘those people involved in the incident to refrain from such activities as such unlawful actions are not acceptable in today’s civilised society especially when all the churches, elders and Naga people as a whole are praying for peace and tranquillity to prevail in the State.’ The RALH has urged the law enforcing agencies not to leave any stone unturned in bringing the felons to justice. The organisation also appealed to all right thinking citizens to fight to erase such ‘senseless menace’ from the society. Sumi Council The Sumi Council of Dimapur (SCD) also issued a note on Thursday stating to have been ‘saddened and shocked after hearing the firing incidents’ that took place on 20th Nov. “against the business community, particularly to the local entrepreneurs which is life threatening that leads to fear psychosis towards Dimapur citizens.” The note from the council called the criminal act “cowardly and ghastly act carried out by miscreants where it can be sorted out through dialogue.”