Mokokchung, August 25 (MTNews): As the news of the alleged custodial death of Henveih Phom spread, more condemnations and demand for justice have been reported. Even as the Phom Students Conference organized a candlelight vigil at public ground, Longleng on Thursday evening against the alleged police brutality, Nagaland’s Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak took to Twitter to condemn the incident. “I strongly condemn the custodial death of a Naga youth, E. Henveih Phom, in Sivasagar, Assam. The manner in which this incident occurred must be thoroughly investigated. The guilty should not be spared. Life has been lost!” Konyak tweeted.
ENSF writes to Chief Secretary, to hold protest rally across 7 Hqs
Meanwhile, the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has written a memo to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland condemning the “heinous act” and has demanded that a Special Investigation Team be constituted to “enquire into the mysterious death of Mr. Henveih Phom and to ensure that timely justice is delivered by booking the perpetrators under the relevant section of the law.”
Further, the ENSF has directed all its federating units to organize peaceful protests in all the seven units’ tribal headquarters on August 26 at 11:00 AM in solidarity with the victim.
KU demands justice
The Konyak Union has also said that it is “tormented by the incident” where the victim “died in mysterious circumstances under the custody of Assam Police.”
“Time and again, the Assam Police has proved that they are nothing, but goons and dacoits of North-East India in uniform without any sanity and integrity of being in the uniform service which otherwise is to protect and safeguard the people of this country,” KU said in a press statement.
While condemning the “brutal murder,” KU has appealed to the government of Nagaland to “take up the matter immediately and book the culprits as per appropriate law so as to ensure justice to the family of the victim.” The Konyak Union also said it shall not remain a mere spectator if the concerned authorities fail to deliver justice to such cold blood murder by the men in uniform.
DPSU to hold candlelight vigil
The Dimapur Phom Students’ Union has also condemned the “inhumane and savage act of torture and murder” and has demanded “immediate investigation from the concerned law enforcing agencies in the suspicious custodial death of our beloved brother, and for early deliverance of justice to the deceased and family members.” The DPSU will also be holding a candlelight vigil at The Garden, Super Market, Dimapur on August 26 at 05:30 PM.
LKM writes to ADC Tuli
Meanwhile, the Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang (LKM) has written to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tuli demanding “prompt action for judicial probe into the custodial death of Henveih Phom at Sivasagar District Jail.” LKM demanded that befitting punishment be given to the erring officials and personnel of the concerned Police Station and other related agencies for omission and negligence on their part, for dispensing due justice. LKM further appealed for awarding “just compensation to the surviving victim’s family so as to uphold the rule of law in the interest of justice.”
Ao Senden condemns
The Ao Senden has strongly condemned the “barbaric action and consequent torture and committing custodial death” of a Naga youth, E Henveih Phom, S/o. Eshah Phom of Anaki C Village under Mokokchung district, by the Assam Police personnel of Geleki Police station, Assam.
“It is clearly indicated that the death is committed by the law keepers where they have taken the law into their own hands,” Ao Senden president Chubawati Longchar and general secretary Imtipokyim said in a press release.
Further, Ao Senden appealed the authority to book the “errant personnel and proceed legal action and deliver justice so that such heinous action does not happen to anyone in the future.”