As the Police continue with its investigation on Thursday’s firing and stone pelting incident at Yisemyong area in Mokokchung district, the opposing parties, National People’s Party and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, in 24 Angetyongpang A/C continue to tell their own sides of the story.
S Moangkaba Ozukum, the NPP candidate, claimed to media persons last night that the shots were fired by his bodyguard to protect him and that he would have been seriously hurt had it not been for the blank shots.
He had also alleged the NDPP supporters of being “the attackers” and not as speculated on social media and stated that he and his people had given their statements to the Superintendent of Police Mokokchung.
Read more: Nagaland Polls: Supporters of candidate from Mokokchung alleges ambush, fired upon
Bodyguard fired blank shots to protect me: Moangkaba Ozukum on Angetyongpang A/C ambush allegations
On Friday, the media cell, Office of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party 24th Angetyongpang A/C, released another statement of one of its party workers who was in the frontline of the alleged ambush.
Following is the unedited statement posted as received. Readers are requested to maintain an impartial attitude and wait for the police to complete its investigation and avoid making own assumptions.
Press statement of Imkongtemejen Longkumer, Mongsenyimti village
I, Imkongtemejen Longkumer from Mongsenyimti Village was travelling to Mokokchung along with eight other NDPP party workers in two vehicles, it was around 11 am.
As we reached the area between Yisemyong and Tzurangmen, around 20 vehicles and hundred people were assembled at the spot.
Since the party workers of the NPP were obstructing the road, our convoy of two vehicles stopped, the car following me behind also stopped.
Trying to take stock of the situtation, I asked the NPP party workers what the situation was all about.
They in turn asked me, “Why are you chasing us?” They added, if you don’t want trouble then you better back off.
I said that we were not looking for trouble and that we were heading to Mokokchung for our work. I further added, “If you think that we will be the reason for trouble then your group first go ahead and we’ll come back, I backed off from the spot by turning my car around.
As I was doing this, I could see the NPP supporters advancing to the vehicle on the rear view mirror.
I got off from my vehicle and asked their motive for advancing toward my vehicle. As I was asking this to the NPP party workers, they started to pelt stones at us. I must put it on the record that the NPP candidate was also present at the site, he even pelted stones at us.
About five seconds into the stone pelting, the NPP party workers resorted to firing gunshots. We are not sure about the number of gunshots but four empty cases have been recovered by the police in connection with this.
It must be noted that the gunshots were not blank fired but fired towards us.
On hearing the gunshots, I also decided to flee the scene as I was concerned for my safety. All this while my party workers were behind me o and everyone fled on their own.
Subsequently, on hearing the authority from Yisemyong Adhoc Town Committee member came shouting to the place.
He was yelling, who was disturbing and violating the peace of his area.
On hearing the voice of the authority from Yisemyong town council, the NPP party workers led by their candidate, Maongkaba Ozukum headed towards Mokokchung town. As they were fleeing the scene, one of the car belonging to NPP party workers toppled.
With everyone(NPP party workers) gone from the scene, I looked around the area to take stock of the situation and found out that one of our party workers sustained major injuries and both of our vehicles also sustained damages.
Subsequently, we first decided to tend to the wounded by taking the inujured to Yisemyong Dispensary and gave him first aid. Even though, his situation was grave that he needed medical attention at Mokokchung town, we decided to transfer the injured person to Mongsenyimti PHC.
While all these things were going on, police personnel reached the spot around 11:30 am to 12 pm(noon time).
After the police reached the spot, we also submitted our first hand acount of the incident and we cancelled our trip to Mokokchung Town and returned to Mongsenyimti village.
Additionally, I’d like to state that there were only nine of us in two vehicles, whereas, there were hundreds of NPP party workers. Lastly I would like to state that any temptation to mark the NDPP party workers as the aggressor is false and unfounded.
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