The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) has strongly condemned the suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near Khuzama village along the highway on November 11, describing it as an assault on the peace and security of the people of Southern Angami and Nagaland.
In a statement, SAPO expressed shock and anguish over the incident, which reportedly occurred between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and caused damage to a retaining wall. It said no loss of life or injury to civilians had been reported.
Describing the incident as a deliberate attempt to disturb peace, instil fear and disrupt normal life, SAPO said the act was an affront to the values of peace, unity, brotherhood and mutual respect upheld by the Southern Angami people for generations.
The Organisation said planting an explosive device on a public highway used daily by students, farmers, commuters, patients, tourists and security personnel was an act of extreme cruelty, warning that although infrastructure had borne the impact this time, innocent lives could have been endangered.
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SAPO appealed to citizens to remain calm, composed and vigilant and not to fall prey to rumours, panic or speculation. It also urged the public to immediately report any suspicious object, movement or person to village authorities or the nearest police station.
The Organisation pledged its full cooperation to the investigating agencies, including Nagaland Police, Khuzama Police Station and other concerned security agencies, and called upon citizens to extend similar cooperation to ensure that the perpetrators were identified.
SAPO demanded that those responsible for the blast be traced and apprehended without delay and booked under the relevant provisions of law, stating that exemplary punishment should serve as a deterrent against the recurrence of such incidents.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, justice and the welfare of the people, SAPO expressed solidarity with the people of Khuzama and all peace-loving citizens and prayed for the continued peace, safety and protection of the land.
