Hurt scribe doubts he was shot 'randomly'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal/Senapati, August 31 2025:
The Nagaland-based Hornbill TV reporter who was injured in the Laii incident yesterday has expressed doubt that he was "randomly" hit by air gun pellets, as per a PTI report.
Speaking to the news agency from a private hospital in Dimapur where he was admitted, Saikia said, "We were five persons returning after covering the event and had got out of our vehicle to relieve ourselves.
Suddenly, I was shot in my right leg, and within a gap of a few seconds, the second bullet hit my right armpit" .
"I was the only one shot twice among the five people, and it makes me suspect that it was not random bullets that hit me," he said.
Saikia, who is from Assam's Jorhat district, claimed he has received threats to his life, which he has informed the police.
"Without evidence, I cannot name anyone.
But life threats were there against me related to my work, and I urge the police to investigate all angles," he added.
Saikia is likely to be shifted to Guwahati for advanced treatment as the bullets are yet to be extracted from his body.
The gunman was caught along with an air gun by the locals and handed over to the police, officials said.
Police said they were investigating the motive behind the attack on the journalist.
According to the PTI report, a few days back Nagaland's Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton had berated Saikia at a public event in Wokha district over his report.
The report was based on allegations by locals that authorities have been inactive on their side of the boundary while a massive eviction drive was undertaken in Assam.
On the other hand, the Laii (Vafiimai) Village Authority has clarified that the incident has no relation to any death threats or political issues faced by the victim including the recent incident in Nagaland where Deputy CM Y Patton was seen berating Dip Saikia at a public event, according to the shooter and locals.
Accusing "mainland" media houses of publishing "half-baked reports", the Laii VA said that the firing incident happened 3 km away from the Zinnia festival site between Laii and Chingmai Khullen village which is also covered by thick jungle.
It claimed that the shooter was hunting birds near a rest house while the victim was some 300 meters away resting in another memorial shed with a gorge between the two.
According to local sources, poor visibility on the day due to heavy rain and foggy weather allegedly led to mistaken firing in the direction of the victim.
Some witnesses also claimed that the stray pellets fired by the shooter were from the seized Hydraulic Airgun and not other sources.
Soon after the incident, the Laii VA detained the shooter for interrogation and later handed him over to the police team around 1.30 am the next day.
The police have remanded the shooter and official findings are expected by Monday evening, informed a source.
The Laii VA has further clarified that the shooter was not from Laii village, but was a tourist visiting the ongoing Zinnia festival in Laii village where possession of an air-gun and hunting in the village is prohibited under local regulations.
According to the statement made by the accused before the VA, he admitted to discharging an air-gun with the intention of shooting a bird, and asserted that he did not perceive the presence of the victim at the time of shooting.
The Laii VA has reiterated that although the incident occurred within their jurisdiction, the people of Laii village have no involvement in the incident.
The VA also condemned "certain media reports that have sought to tarnish the image of Laii village by reporting without ascertaining the ground reality".
It has also urged the media to refrain from politicizing the matter and to report only after ascertaining the facts.
Saying that people of the village deeply regret the unfortunate incident, the Laii VA assured their full cooperation to make sure that justice is delivered and extended solidarity to the injured reporter.
(With inputs from PTI ) .
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