Hundreds of community members donned traditional garments and marched through Senapati district on Friday, demanding swift justice following a fatal shooting incident that claimed three civilian lives and left another individual wounded in Kailenjang on September 26. The demonstration reflected deep anguish within the community, with participants insisting that accountability must be fixed without delay.
Community Unites for Protest Rally and Public Gathering
Coordinated by the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), the mass demonstration saw extensive participation from tribal bodies, civil society groups, women’s forums, student unions, and local church denominations. The procession originated at the Senapati Traffic Point, made its way along the thoroughfare toward the Forest Gate situated at Rikhumai Taphou, and later retraced its path back to the starting point, where attendees congregated for a large public meeting.
Because administrative establishments were closed on account of Gandhi Jayanti, an official delegation from the NPO proceeded directly to the residential quarters of the Deputy Commissioner to present a comprehensive nine-point memorandum. Copies of this formal representation were simultaneously dispatched to the Governor, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Home Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, and the Superintendent of Police in Senapati. The leadership of the NPO issued a seven-day deadline for the government to issue an official written response, cautioning that a failure to do so within the specified period would lead to intensified public protests.
Demands for Time-Bound High-Level Investigation
Central to the list of grievances submitted to the administration is the immediate creation of a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT). The organisation specified that this investigative panel must be headed by a police officer holding at least the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP). To ensure momentum and transparency, the memorandum stipulates that the inquiry must conclude within 30 days, followed by the formal submission of a charge-sheet within 45 days. Additionally, the NPO insisted that authorities furnish an interim progress briefing to both the aggrieved families and the organisation within 15 days.
Financial Relief, Rehabilitation, and Customary Support
On the humanitarian and financial front, the memorandum seeks an ex-gratia compensation of no less than Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of each of the three deceased victims. It further demands exhaustive medical care and substantial economic support for the sole surviving injured victim, Adani Manio. The signatories also sought state funding to cover burial expenses and traditional rites associated with the customary observances of the departed.
The petition expanded into longer-term rehabilitation measures, including compassionate government employment opportunities for qualified members of the affected households. Furthermore, educational provisions were sought to guarantee schooling and academic stability for the surviving dependent children.
Border Vulnerabilities and Calls for Armed Group Action
Regarding regional stability, the NPO urged authorities to initiate rigorous area domination efforts and step up regular patrols across vulnerable sections along the Senapati-Kangpokpi territorial boundary. The memorandum explicitly called for stern administrative and security measures against armed cadres operating in close proximity to civilian habitations, citing persistent perils to unarmed residents.
Addressing the assembled crowd during the public meeting, a representative from the bereaved families voiced profound outrage over the September 26 afternoon attack, categorizing it as an unprovoked and calculated assault while rejecting any framing of the episode as a mutual clash. The speaker noted that the victims were merely carrying out their routine daily chores when they came under fire. Concurrently, office-bearers from the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) and the Naga Women’s Union emphasized that the campaign for justice would remain active until impartial inquiries were completed and every perpetrator was held accountable under the law.
