• Judiciary cautioned against granting bail again
• Viswema to rally on Thursday
EMN
Dimapur, July 6
Reflecting the growing sense of disillusionment, and alienation from judicial redress and the justice system, a youth organization in Kohima district has sought the Death Penalty for three persons accused–and said to have confessed–in the murder of a youth, Tepumecie ‘Meciebo’ Lcho, on March 29.
Another statement emanating from the community was to the judiciary: don’t grant bail to criminals again for they are a danger to citizens in the open society.
Kruse Terhüja of Khonoma village, Vilalhoulie Rupre-o of Nachama village and Kezhaletuo Pielie of Gariphema village were arrested by police authorities in Kohima recently and charged with killing the youth. Lcho was said to have been running a small shop and was taking care of his aged parents before his death.
The accused persons include at least two who have a disturbing history of criminal activities including murder and extortion. For instance, one of the accused served only 6 years in jail after being convicted of murder in 2006.
Rachü Youth Organization (RYO) of Viswema village under Kohima district issued a press release on Monday, July 6 stating that the demised youth lived in a way that did not deserve ‘even physical assault’ leave alone such a gruesome death. “The three accused persons should be penalized by awarding capital punishment for murdering an innocent person who had not committed any fault which requires such act of reactions. Therefore, we strongly appeal to the District & Sessions Judge, Kohima to award capital punishment to the three accused at the earliest,” the RYOP stated in its statement to the authorities.
The organization stated in the press release:
“The RYO condemn the inhuman act of Kruse Terhüja of Khonoma village, Vilalhoulie Rupre-o of Nachama village and Kezhaletuo Pielie of Gariphema village who had connived and mercilessly murder Late Meciebo Lcho of Viswema village without any reason. The organisation would like to make known to the public that Late Meciebo Lcho has no bad antecedents, therefore, his activities does not even invite any physical assault”.
The youths then recounted the gory demise of Lcho in hands of his murders: “The killing of Late Meciebo Lcho was done in such brutal manner which is undreamed of – he was first physically assaulted to the highest degree and later tied his hands with a belt, then tied his legs with rope and the noose of it was tied around his neck which ultimately caused his death.”
The RYO has said that the act of the three accused was “against Naga culture and unheard in Naga history” and the “manner of killing Late Meciebo Lcho is rare of the rarest nature in criminal history”.
The Viswema organization has expressed gratitude to the Kohima police authority, particularly the Superintendent of Police of Kohima and the investigating officer of the case and the district administration for capturing the three accused.
“The efficiency of the police force and district administration is revealed to the public in this particular case by utilizing latest technologies,” the statement added.
Procession in Kohima town
Viswema village will be taking out a peaceful procession on July 9 in Kohima town in protest against the murder of Tepumecie ‘Meciebo’ Lcho, a member of the village. Viswema Youth Organization issued a press release on Monday informing of the procession.
“The people of Viswema will be holding a peaceful procession in Kohima town to protest against the heinous murder of one of its members, Meciebo (Tepumecie) Lcho, whose killers were recently apprehended by the Kohima district administration and the police,” the youth organization said.
“The procession will be a message to all anti-socials that criminal acts will not be passively tolerated by the general public. It will also signify the demand of all the people of Viswema to the local judiciary not to grant bail to such dangerous criminals who are capable of endangering the lives of people even in the future”.
The procession on Thursday will commence from 10 am. It will commence from the PR Hill junction and culminate in the premises of the deputy commissioner of the district. The community will then submit a memorandum to the District Sessions’ Judge.
“The Viswema Youth Organization under the aegis of the Viswema Village Council requests all the people of Viswema wherever they are to come to Kohima to take part in the procession. All government servants are also requested to avail casual leave for that day to join in the event,” the organization said in appeal.
