Condemns brutal killing of Ashiikho Kreni

22 July 2013

The Mao Council, first and foremost, condemns in the strongest term the brutal killing of Late Ashiikho Kreni and demands from the government of Nagaland to book the perpetrators at the shortest time possible and give befitting punishment to deter such heinous crimes in the near future. We equally condemn the treatment meted out to Late Ashiikho Kreni by those on duty at the landslide area prior to his death.

Secondly, the Mao Council is constrained to bring out available facts and seek for clearance of certain matters related to the killing of Ashiikho Kreni. Late Ashiikho Kreni was a taxi driver by profession, hailing from Punanamei village under Mao-Maram sub-division, Manipur. He was found murdered on the intervening night of 16th July, 2013 and his lifeless body found early 17th July, 2013 morning near Kigwema, Nagaland.

He was returning alone from Dimapur after dropping passengers and his alto car got stuck up at Phesama land slide area and had alteration with the Nagaland police personnel, youth volunteers of the area and after which what transpired is a mystery. The lifeless and shirtless body of late Ashiikho Kreni was found in a pool of blood with head injuries, scratch marks on the stomach, chest area, broken right thigh bone which was pulled/forced up to his chest and hanging over the neck.

Though it is not clear whether he was brutally murdered or hit by speeding vehicle, the dead body was found about 6 kms away from his car. Nevertheless, we cannot find any excusable reason for those police personnel and youth volunteers of the area who were on duty that night to let a non local leave on foot leaving his car behind at that time of the night.

We also do not find any justifiable reason as to why the victim was allowed to proceed on foot when police personnel and youth volunteers on duty had confronted the victim and seized the key of the car. Was the victim forced to walk over 6 kms to his death? Clouds of doubt and suspicion looms large over the conduct of those on duty at the landslide area that unfortunate night.

Thirdly, we do not blame conclusively on any one for the killing but we will not hesitate to express our serious doubt, suspicion and displeasure over the manner the Nagaland govt., its agencies and volunteers had tried to draw conclusion as hit and run case and trying to close the case prematurely. It is also disheartening to see uncooperative attitude of the Nagaland govt. in spite of the case happening very much in its soil.

It is the normal practice of any civilized society to give outmost priority for free and fair investigation and justice due to a man who is dead as he cannot speak on his own behalf. But such was not the practice in this particular case.

The Mao community is a peace loving and a hospitable community. We had from our past records, to prove that we are always cooperative with all communities and law enforcing agencies to bring justice and logical conclusion to similar cases which had happened within our jurisdiction.

On isolated cases of kidnappings, lootings and dumping of dead bodies in Mao area, the Mao Council had always extended all possible cooperation, material and logistic supports to bring out the truth and ensure that law of the land prevails. The Mao community as peace loving and god fearing community will not allow such unfortunate thing to happen in its jurisdiction and expect neighbouring communities and Nagaland government to reciprocate as well.

Fourthly, we are grateful to both the Home Ministers of Manipur, Shri Gaikhangam and Shri G. Kaito of Nagaland, Hon’ble Minister of Manipur, Shri Francis Ngajokpa and Hon’ble local MLA, Shri L. Dikho for their collective relentless effort to ensure proper conduct of post mortem and defusing the tense situation arising out of the killing of late Ashiikho Kreni.

We would sincerely thank both the home ministers for their assurance of proper investigation and find out the killers, be it a murder or hit and run case at the earliest possible time so that justice is done to the departed soul.

We are also grateful to all the civil society leaders, church leaders, political leaders, expert team of doctors who performed the post mortem, various organizations, unions, friends, relatives of the victim, all individuals and specially Shri L. Dikho, Hon’ble local MLA for having peacefully laid to rest the departed soul of late Ashiikho Kreni.

Lastly, but not the least, we appeal to all concerned to stay calm, display maturity and extend fullest cooperation to the agencies of Nagaland governments in finding the killer/murderer/s of late Ashiikho Kreni as had been assured by the Hon’ble Home Minister. We do not seek revenge but we want justice and will leave no stone unturned until culprits are caught, awarded exemplary punishment and the case brought to its logical conclusion.

Yours:

President,
Mao Council.