Mokokchung Police acted in the quickest means in all poll-related violence: DGP Rupin Sharma

“The Mokokchung police have been able to act in the quickest means in all incidents related to poll violence, in coordination with the district administration, for a peaceful polling in the district,” the Director General of the state police, Rupin Sharma IPS said while commenting on the overall scenario of Mokokchung’s law and order situation during the polls.

Despite precautionary measures, during the recently concluded polls, the state’s election was marked by a series of events particularly in Mokokchung including a murder in Chungtia village, seizures of arms including two AK 47 in Alichen, pre-poll and post-poll violences in Angetyongpang AC, Aonglenden AC and Longkhum village.

Commenting on it, the DGP informed Mokokchung Times that in Mokokchung district, a total of nearly 15 criminal cases were registered including the incidents of pre-poll and post-poll violence at various places in the district and the murder case in Chungtia village.

“More than 60 persons have been arrested/detained in various cases so far,” he informed, adding that nine accused have been arrested in the Chungtia murder case and that the investigation is ongoing.

He further informed that eleven persons have been arrested in the latest post-poll incident that took place on March 9 in Longkhum village where few houses were damaged by a group of people.

However, the DGP maintained that compared to previous years, Mokokchung district has seen less incidents of pre-poll and post-poll violence in the district due to various reasons such as late campaigns by candidates, proactive measures adopted by the police, more people awareness and so on.

“The incidents were not widespread, instead it was in a few pockets of the district only,” he said, citing Longkhum, Alichen, Ungma and Angetyonpang A/C.

He also added that with the guidance of PHQ, the district police had also identified the possible flashpoints in the district and had deployed CAPF and NAP/IR in anticipation to prevent the poll-related violence.

“Extensive area domination exercises were also carried out in identified flashpoint areas,” he added.

As a preventive measure and in view of the then prevailing law and order situation, he explained that extensive search and seizure exercise for unlicensed arms and ammunition of the individuals in all villages under 28 A/C Koridang was carried out by combined teams of district administration and police on February 25 and 26, 2023 which, according to him, resulted in seizure of 2 AK 47 with live ammunitions, one 0.32 pistol and one crude bomb and arrest of 19 individuals in this regard near Alichen Junction.

Investigations continue

Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, a Mokokchung police official told this newspaper that the 11 accused in the latest post-poll incident at Longkhum on March 9, in which at least 16 houses were damaged by a group of people, were undergoing medical examinations and would be transferred to judicial custody.

Speaking on the Chungtia murder case, the police official said that no additional information can be revealed as it might jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

With respect to the Alichen arms seizure case, sources have revealed that among the 19 arrested some have been released on bail. Upon inquiry for confirmation, the official preferred not to comment on the issue as it does not come under the purview of the police once the accused have been transferred to judicial custody.