The accused in the Chiechama shooting incident has been remanded to judicial custody, with Kohima Police stating that the investigation was underway and that the bullet recovered from the injured victim had been preserved as evidence.
PRO, Kohima Police, Soriso, said the accused was arrested by personnel of Chiephobozou Police Station as the September 16 incident had occurred within the station’s jurisdiction. He said the accused was subsequently produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody and was currently lodged at District Jail, Kohima.
Soriso further informed that the bullet recovered from the victim had been retrieved and preserved as evidence as part of the investigation. He said the police were examining all relevant aspects of the case and that further necessary action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The 28-year-old victim, Langshe Lomou, son of Lt Timeng Lomou of Chendang Saddle under Tuensang district, sustained a gunshot injury to his back and was admitted to KOHIMAS hospital in Kohima.
Doctors said Lomou was admitted in a semi-conscious and shocked state with internal bleeding and a complicated condition. He sustained injuries to the kidney, colon and stomach, with the bullet causing a perforation in the colon.
According to the doctors, the stomach injury resulted in leakage of stool into the abdominal cavity, raising concerns over a possible infection. The patient was administered two units of blood and medical teams worked to stabilise his blood pressure.
Doctors said the victim’s condition was currently stable but that the next 48 hours would be crucial in determining whether an infection develops and in assessing his response to treatment. He remained under close medical observation.
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According to the Chiechama Village Council, the incident occurred at around 11:40 a.m. on September 16 when Medochülie Zumvü, 71, of Chiechama village, allegedly shot Lomou.
The Council said Lomou had been working for the past three days at the construction site of a Primary Health Centre at Chiechama and alleged that the shooting occurred after the accused objected to the workers carrying out work at the site.
In a statement issued on September 17, Chiechama Village Council chairman Neizolie Rüpreo and press secretary Kevineisa Metha condemned the alleged shooting, describing it as “barbaric and inhuman”, and called for justice for the victim.
The Council appreciated the police for swiftly taking the accused into custody and stated that no village member should seek to bail the accused from police custody.
The village council also appealed to the law-enforcement authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure justice for the victim.
Meanwhile, the Council chairman informed that the village council was considering excommunicating the accused from the village for seven years, with a final decision expected in the coming days. The council also expressed prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured worker.
