Tokugha student body seeks justice for man killed in police chase

DIMAPUR — The Tokugha Ghami Kiphimi Kuqhakulu (TGKK) has condemned the killing of a 40-year-old man from Tokugha village in Niuland district and sought for justice.

The victim, identified as Ngukavi Yeptho, reportedly died on Thursday night after being run over by a vehicle during a chase by the Dimapur police personnel.

Terming the action of the Women Cell and the Special Operation Team (SOT) Dimapur as “unconstitutional”, the student body said that “such inhumane act has no space in Naga society”.

It went on to urge ‘the law enforcing agencies to thoroughly investigate the case, apprehend the culprit and book those involved under appropriate sections of laws’, saying that no person, including police personnel is above the law.

“Who will protect the public when the police violate the law?” it asked.

The deceased was said to be on his way to Kuhoboto in a motorbike when the tragic incident happened. He was reportedly run over by a vehicle during a chase by SOT and Women police.

He was taken to Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) in Chümoukedima on Thursday night following the incident but was declared dead. His body was handed over to the family on July 26 after conducting post mortem.

The family members of the deceased said that Yeptho might have died on the spot and that they were informed about the incident on July 25 around 11 pm. They added that they were informed after the incident, about an FIR being lodged against the deceased but no further information was provided.

Sources shared that the deceased is survived by his wife and three children, and that he was the sole bread earner of the family.

As per sources, the family of the deceased has filed an FIR at Niuland Police Station against the driver of the vehicle involved in the police pursuit.

To gather more information about the incident, this newspaper contacted police officials but in vain, while phone calls to the PRO Dimapur went unattended.