Police in Nagaland have arrested 22 suspects by Monday morning in connection with the jail break and lynching of a rape accused on March 5. Wabang Jamir, Inspector General of Police, Nagaland said that the arrests were made on the basis of video footages available. He said that more arrests will be made.
He also said that to begin with all internet, SMS had been blocked till Tuesday. If need be the blocking may be extended. Video clippings of the unfortunate incident had gone viral and it had fomented tension.
Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang had admitted some administrative and intelligence failure during the March 5 mayhem. His government has taken up appropriate steps by suspending three officials. He had also written a letter to the Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi informing him of the steps taken up. Mr. Zeliang had also warned against politicising the issue. His detractors had asked him to resign owning moral responsibility.
Due to the curfew all offices, educational institutions are closed. People are facing shortage of consumer items and people in need of medicare are left in the lurch. All roads are deserted. Since the situation is unpredictable all Manipur bound vehicles had taken a detour to come through NH 37 via the Barak valley. Though students, women and other NGOs are frantically resorting to damage control measures the government is going ahead with arrests much to the chagrin of the activists. The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who rushed additional forces to Dimapur is closely monitoring the situation. The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi may have a political angle in his outburst since he is a Congress leader.
The Inspector General of Police Jamir said that curfew, prohibitory orders and blocking of the internet facility will continue till normality is restored.
