LONGDING, Apr 4: The National People’s Party’s (NPP) candidate for the Longding-Pumao constituency in Longding district has alleged that non-state actors have been dictating terms to the public of the constituency to support the BJP candidate in the upcoming election.
“The four factions of the underground outfit have already entered into Pumao circle of Longding district, and are threatening the public with dire consequences if their order is defied,” Thangwang Wangham, who is contesting for the Longding-Pumao constituency on an NPP ticket, said in a press statement.
He said the underground outfits are threatening the public over telephones and also summoning prominent leaders, including village chiefs, to different locations in Nagaland with the intention of intimidating the public to support the BJP candidate.
He said members of the outfits are currently camping at Chatting and Pumao villages.
Wangham accused the Pema Khandu-led caretaker government of resorting to such tactics.
“This is the cheap politics of the Pema Khandu-led BJP government. Life and security of the public should not be taken for granted for the mere sake of winning elections,” he said.
Expressing grave concern over the prevailing situation, Wangham appealed to the Centre to deploy sufficient security forces to uphold democracy and conduct peaceful election.
Stating that three precious lives have already been taken in the name of election by underground elements in Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) districts so far, Wangham said the state’s home department, the union home affairs ministry, and the security personnel of the TCL districts would be held responsible for any further loss of innocent lives due to lapses in security.
ZPM’s killing condemned
Meanwhile, the Wancho Students’ Union has condemned the killing of former ZPM Selem Wangsa and demanded that the law enforcing authority nab the perpetrators at the earliest.
The union also condemned the killing of Jaley Anna of Kheti village in Tirap district by suspected NSCN militants, and sought the intervention of the governor and the Election Commission of India to ensure security for the people of TCL districts and free and fair participation of the citizens in the upcoming elections.
The union urged the authorities concerned to conduct investigation into both the incidents.
