Over 200 Ao women today met V.S. Atem, emissary to the collective leadership of NSCN (I-M) at his residence at 5th Mile, Dimapur, and submitted a memorandum demanding the handover of the culprits who had attempted to murder Imtila Jamir, retired registrar of co-operative societies, on May 27 here.
The organisation said if the NSCN (I-M) failed to heed to their demand, it would invite further course of action. “We will take further course of action if they fail to meet our demand,” Watikala Ao, ex-president of the organisation, said.
She said the outfit had refused to hand over one of the accused in their custody. “We want them to hand over the culprit to police,” Watikala told The Telegraph.
The NSCN (I-M) had promised to take punitive action against the perpetrator in their custody according to its laws, but would never hand him over to the police.
She said Atem gave them a patient hearing but said action would be taken according to the law of the Government of People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN).
The outfit never hands over its cadres to the police. It claims that the GPRN is the only legitimate government.
Primary culprit Worshim Tangkhul is still absconding. However, according to sources, he was traced to Silchar in Assam through his mobile phone, from where it was switched off.
Intelligence sources did not rule out Tangkhul escaping to Bangladesh. He was a servant at Imtila’s house before he joined the NSCN (I-M). On May 27 evening around 7.30, he came to Imtila’s house and shot her after a brief argument. Imtila, however, escaped with a bullet injury in her right arm.
Ao women, supported by several other Naga organisations, including the Naga Mothers’ Association, have demanded for appropriate action for the culprits.
The state government has also constituted an inquiry to probe into the incident headed by a senior police officer.
According to sources, however, investigation could not proceed further as the police could not arrest the culprits.