Tuensang fallout: Government orders probe

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 30 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has ordered an inquiry into the alleged violations of standard operating procedures (SOP) by officials in Kohima during the transportation of Tuensang returnees recently.

In a notification issued on Saturday, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy announced that a three-member judicial committee comprising LN Sema (retired district and session judge), Akum Jamir (advocate) and Yangtsapila Sangtam (advocate) has been directed to complete the inquisition and submit a report in 15 days.

The terms of reference for the inquiry include:

• Circumstances, timings and logistical arrangements under which the inbound Tuensang returnees were transported.
• Whether the SOP formulated by the state government regarding transporting the returnees to their respective districts was followed.
• Whether there was lack of co-ordination between the task forces of sending and receiving districts.
• Any other matter related to the departure of returnees of Tuensang.

Further, it informed that the committee will function from the Kohima police officer’s mess at Phesama.

It might be mentioned that the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) had demanded immediate disciplinary action against the officials involved in the alleged mismanagement that led to 168 returnees being sent to Tuensang from Kohima before their test results were confirmed.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror on Saturday, ENPO president, Kekongchim Yimchunger, said that the demand is to first suspend the government officials.

“Any inquiry that needs to be made can only be done after the suspension of the officials involved in the violation,” Yimchunger said.