SENAPATI/UKHRUL: Senapati district frontal organisations have condemned the reported killing while raising questions over alleged procedural lapses in the recovery of the two bodies and calling for an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The organisations raised the concerns during a press conference held at the office of the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) in Senapati on Sunday.
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NPO president Kuba Peter said the organisations unequivocally condemned all forms of killing, irrespective of the community or identity of those involved. However, he said the circumstances surrounding the reported recovery of the bodies in Senapati had raised serious questions that warranted clarification.
Questioning whether due legal procedures were followed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, Peter asked whether the concerned executive magistrate and district authorities had been informed as required under Section 194, and whether a proper inquest had been conducted in the presence of local inhabitants as witnesses.
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He also pointed to discrepancies in media and police accounts regarding the timing of the recovery. Citing a report in a leading state newspaper, he said the bodies were reportedly recovered at around 5:30 am on Saturday, while police reports indicated Sunday morning.
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Peter questioned the source and timing of the information provided to the newspaper, particularly regarding the recovery and condition of the bodies, stating that the conflicting accounts raised concerns over the sequence of events and transparency of the investigation.
The NPO president also raised questions over the role of Additional SP (Law and Order), Senapati, Thangkhochon Haokip, whose impartiality in handling sensitive communal matters, he claimed, had previously been questioned.
“What role did he play in this operation? Was the recovery conducted strictly according to law, or was there any attempt to stage-manage the circumstances to shift responsibility and victimise the people of Senapati in particular and the Nagas in general?” Peter asked.
He maintained that the questions warranted an independent investigation rather than speculation.
“Let us be clear: We condemn any killing, and we equally condemn any manipulation of evidence or deliberate attempt to inflame communal tensions,” Peter said, demanding an impartial, transparent and independent investigation to establish the truth, ensure accountability and prevent further communal tensions.
He added that the people of Senapati deserved the truth and not to be made scapegoats.
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