Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy CM TR Zeliang and the Naga Hoho have voiced strong opinions opposing an incident that occurred in Kohima on May 27th. Unidentified persons vandalized a building that housed the offices of the NSF, ANCSU and other shops.
Chief Minister Rio took to Twitter to express his dismay over the incident of vandalism, urging citizens to respect private and public properties as part of a civilized society. He appealed to citizens of Kohima to maintain peace and harmony and urged the law enforcing agencies to take action at the earliest.
Deputy CM TR Zeliang released a press communiqué condemning the act of vandalism and asked citizens to not take the law into their own hands. Speaking out in support of legal systems, he asked residents of Kohima to be accommodating when exploring ways to resolve issues.
The Naga Hoho viewed the vandalism as an affront to the Naga legacy, history and traditions. The office of the NSF, they said, held sacred the political history, sentiments and emotions of every Naga and its attack a murder to the future Naga generation. The Hoho called for the authorities to take steps against culprits and apply befitting punishment to those found responsible.
NSF is a non-profit organization established in 1945 with the objective of preserving the Naga political rights and interests. It is recognized as the representative body of the sixteen major Naga tribes. The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU), on the other hand, works towards safeguarding the rights and protecting the interests of college students across Nagaland. Both organizations have established a solid presence in the state, extending their services to the Nagaland people with utmost dedication. In this regard, it is imperative for citizens to respect the efforts of such organizations by standing against any acts of vandalism.