Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MARCH 6
The situation in Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur is slowly returning to normalcy even as Section 144 CrPC continues to be in force, said Additional Director of Police, Akito Sema while briefing media persons here at SP Office on Friday evening.“Security arrangements have been intensified. The situation is under control now,” he said adding, “The district administration has deployed eleven companies of IRB and three companies of CRPF to maintain law and order.” He said, police are under the process of registering cases against those responsible for lynching the rape accused and arsons around the town. “There are sufficient video clippings police can access to, so it will not be difficult for us to book the culprits”, he added.
While requesting the general public not to upload any provocative footage or clippings, he said, “perhaps people from outside the state (non-Nagas) might be doing the same so as to make the situation worst.”
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (ICERT-IN) has blocked Naga Blog and Naga Spear since yesterday, he added.
“The curfew will continue until the situation improves. We will do whatever possible to stop any escalation,” Sema said.
Today, Muslim community could offer their Friday namaz (prayer) peacefully at New Market Masjid as CRPF personnel along with IRBs kept vigilance in and around Dimapur.
Even the Hindus were seen celebrating ‘Holi’ with much pomp and gaiety in spite of curfew being imposed.
Meanwhile, the Dimapur Muslim Council said the situation is returning to normal with no incidents of backlash reported from anywhere.
“We have formed peace committees in different localities and efforts are on to ensure that the incident does not lead to communal clashes,” said A Rahman, working president of the council.
Centre concerned
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed concern over the breakdown of law and order in Dimapur, following the lynching of a rape accused on Thursday evening after he was dragged out of jail. The Home Minister said on Friday morning that all security arrangements were in place and that State and Central forces were on alert. Hundreds of Manipur bound vehicles are stranded along NH 2 which passes through Nagaland. Some of them had managed to return towards Assam.
