Tongpang Ozukum, Temjen Imna Along, various organizations condemn vandalization of Naga Club Building

Not only unfortunate but unacceptable: Advisor Tongpang Ozukum

“It is not only unfortunate but unacceptable. I don’t have much to say,” Advisor Water Resources, Tongpang Ozukum who is also a former president of NSF said in dismay as he visited the spot.
Stating that the perpetrators are not in the right state of mind, he called the act ‘shameless’.

“The building and the infrastructure may be demolished but I don’t think the spirit of the Naga Students’ Federation can be pulled down by those bulldozers and excavators,” he said, adding that he cannot accept this act.

Answering to whether he agrees with the speculations that this is the doing of Naga Club, he said, “I don’t think anyone with a nationalistic mind can do such a thing to the Naga Club building.”

It’s not vandalized, it’s destroyed: Minister Temjen Imna Along

Minister of Tourism and Higher Education and also the state BJP president, Temjen Imna Along, expressed his dismay and condemnation regarding the destruction of the NSF office. Speaking to the media, Minister Along stated, “It’s not vandalized, it’s destroyed.”

In a society that values civilized discussions and discourse, Minister Along emphasized that those responsible for the destruction of the NSF office are unworthy of being called citizens of Nagaland. He said that the NSF represents the aspirations of the Naga people, making the attack on their office a direct assault on these aspirations.

“Just booking them under the law will not be enough,” Minister Along declared. “Their names must be erected for Naga generations to know, with their faces, so that every Naga will recognize these are the hooligans who have destroyed the symbol of our aspirations.” He called on every right-thinking Naga citizen, regardless of tribal affiliation, to condemn this act unequivocally.

He said he believes that those responsible for the destruction of the NSF office building are known within the community. He called for their immediate apprehension, stating, “They should be taken out of their homes and put in jail.” He assured the public that the police are actively investigating the incident and will take appropriate action at the right time.

NPCC President reacts

Meanwhile, NPCC president Supongmeren Jamir said that the act has “personally hurt the sentiments among the Nagas, showing disunity” and appeal the citizens to maintain peace.

Naga Hoho ‘shocked and ashamed’

The Naga Hoho said that they are ‘shocked and ashamed’ by the inhuman act of some miscreants who had attacked and vandalized the office of the Naga Students’ Federation.

Stating that the NSF office holds the Naga political history, sentiments and emotions of every Naga, the hoho said, “The attack is a murder to the future Naga generation.”

According to the Hoho, the attack carried out at night by ‘some anti Naga elements proves the motives behind their action’.

“It’s an attack on our legacy, history and traditions. It is a tragedy and the darkest chapter in the history of the Nagas, we hang our heads in shame,” the hoho said and condemned the barbaric act while appealing to the concerned authority to immediately act against such perpetrators and award befitting punishment.

Kohima Press Club condemns

The Kohima Press Club (KPC) has also expressed deep concern over the act of vandalism. A press release from the KPC stated that any act of vandalism is unwarranted and that the act of cowardice has no place in a civilized society. The KPC, while strongly condemning the act, urged upon the authorities concerned to conduct a swift investigation into the whole incident and take action as per the law of the land.

AYO: The attack bears a manifestation of mounting hatred and enmity among the Nagas

Stating that the incident is not just an attack on the building but also on the essence, fabric and legacy of the Nagas, the Angami Youth Organization (AYO) said that “the unwarranted attack on a building which has the office of the apex Naga student body bears a manifestation of mounting hatred and enmity among the Nagas.”

AYO further said that they will not tolerate any action that is detrimental to the progress of the Naga society and asked the law enforcing agencies to be prompt in arresting the culprits and punish them befittingly.

Tenyimi Union Dimapur: Black day in the history of the Nagas

The Tenyimi Union Dimapur called it a ‘black day in the history of the Nagas’ and said that they held their heads down in shame that any Naga would stoop so low.

“Any misunderstanding and dissension can be amicably settled without resorting to such despicable actions,” the union said, stating that the highhandedness and atrocious acts committed by any individual or group cannot be tolerated in the present society where every Naga strive for peaceful coexistence.

AKM: Not common miscreants, but anti-Naga national elements

The Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) while expressing their anguish over the destruction of the Naga Students’ Federation office building stated that the “criminals are not common miscreants, but anti-Naga national elements.”

“Their agenda is obviously to destroy the spirit of Naga nationalism completely,” the AKM stated.

The AKM further condemned the ‘unpatriotic acts of anti-Naga’ that are attempting time and again to destroy every spirit of Naga nationalism.

“The AKM denounces such acts and urges the concerned authority to take necessary action at the earliest,” it stated and assured unwavering support to the NSF in particular and the Naga people in general.

The AKM also extended their support in the collective endeavor to build and rebuild not only the physical building but most importantly the Naga nation at this challenging moment.

Lotha Students’ Union denounces “anti-Naga syndicate

The Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) also condemned the vandalization of the Naga Club Building that houses the NSF office by “elements of anti-Naga syndicate.”

The LSU appealed to all right thinking citizens to denounce such “self-vested syndicates who work for benefits in order to tarnish the image of our pioneers and the history of the Nagas.” Saying it was bewildered by such “unpatriotic urge,” LSU declared all the “Anti-Naga elements as act of terrorism and a threat to the entire Students’ community and the Naga people at large” and demanded the authorities to award befitting punishment to the culprits within 24 hours.

It also extended its full-fledged support to the NSF.

Angami Students’ Union asks perpetrators to surrender themselves

Stating that “vandalism is alien to the Naga people,” the Angami Students’ Union said that “the audacity of some miscreants to mastermind this heinous act in Angami homeland is a direct confrontation with the Angami Students’ Union.”

Therefore, the union, while maintaining that they will not tolerate the ‘cowardly barbarism’ asked those perpetrators to immediately surrender themselves or bear the brunt of the union. The union further added that they will go all out in delivering justice to the NSF and ANCSU.

All Sumi Students’ Union: disturbed, agitated and angered

The All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) said they were ‘disturbed, agitated and angered’ upon the vandalism of the ‘nucleus’ of the Naga students body even beyond borders and said that it can never be justified.

The SKK said they consider it “an act of barbarism and cowardice, possessing a superiority complex in so-advanced society” and thus, resorting to vandalism is condemnable at the highest degree.

The SKK appealed the “authority allocating agency to clinically look for the culprit(s) and sanction or book as per the relevant section(s) of law.”

The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland), Chakhesang Students’ Union, North East Students’ Organization, Naga Mothers Association, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union, Naga Students’ Union Delhi, Naga Students’ Union Bangalore, Rengma Students’ Union, and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation were some of the other organizations that came out to condemn the action where the Naga Club Building that houses the NSF office was destroyed.

Mokokchung Times