The arrested persons are reportedly in police custody and during the course of the investigation, vital leads having a bearing on the case has emerged and more arrests are likely to be made in the following days.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent
Four persons have been reportedly arrested in connection with the alleged “killings” of three persons on March 22 at Lamhainamdi between Dimapur and Peren district border. This followed Nagaland Government setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the killings.
A highly placed source from the police department, disclosed that the four persons who are suspects in connection with the firing and killing of the three persons were arrested on March 30.
The four arrested persons have been identified as Zheshito Swu, GB of Kiyevi Village, Ghosheto Swu, VDB Secretary of Kiyevi Village, Vikaho Kappo, also of Kiyevi village and Lovito Swu, of Diphuphar vilage.
The source informed this correspondent that SP (Crime) and PRO, PHQ, on March 23, a “Suo Motto” Case No.2/2021 under Sections 302/120 B/188/34 IPC R/W 251B/27 (3) Arms Act was registered against unknown persons in the State Crime Police Station (SCPS) relating to the firing and killing of the three persons.
Subsequently, SIT headed by a DIG ranked officer was constituted for investigation of the case following which on registration of the case, the SIT visited the place of occurrence on March 24 and recorded the statements of police personnel posted in the “disputed area” while also garnering the feedbacks of those residents including the “eyewitnesses” of the incident.
The source also disclosed that on March 25, an extensive “raid and search” were carried out by a combined team of SIT, DEF, STF and personnel from the Special Branch within the vicinity of the scene crime and neighbouring villages where many “relevant materials and evidence” were seized and collected including empty and live ammunitions.
The arrested persons are reportedly in police custody and during the course of the investigation, vital leads having a bearing on the case had emerged and more arrests are likely to be made in the following days.
When contacted on the break-through of the March 22 incident, Deputy Commissioner, Peren, Sentiwapang Aier, who is also the District Magistrate (DM), told this correspondent that he has not yet been officially informed or notified.
It may be noted that 144 CrPc was clamped in the two bordering districts recently due to the incident and the “unrest” with additional forces from the IRBs and the STFs.