Abel Asumi, the TaFMA Excellence Award 2023 recipient for ‘Artist of the Year’ has filed an FIR at Zunheboto Police station against the individuals who alleged frisked his car and his personal belongings as well as physically harassed him at Chozuba Town, Phek district on 5 September, 2023.
The drama surrounding the incident that took place around 8:00 pm on Tuesday night escalated very quickly as Asumi’s short clip of the confrontation went viral on social media, which invited comments and opinions that has now resulted in the FIR.
Asumi wrote in his report that he was returning from Kohima with his nephew and other two persons when his car was stopped by “a group of intoxicated individuals at Chozuba” who checked his car. He claimed that he cooperated initially but when he questioned the purpose of the action, the individuals became aggressive and resorted to humiliating and assaulting him. Asumi, in his FIR, asked why there were no slaw enforcement agencies with them and if the youth’s intention was to curb unlawful activities, “they should have done so in a civil and appropriate manner rather than resorting to violence.”
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The Sumi Hoho lost no time to take the issue up with Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) on Wednesday, stating, “Every citizen has the right to freely without fear of harassment or unauthorized interference, whether it is day or night.” It also urged that the “perpetrators” must be “apprehended and subjected to stringent legal penalties.”
It claimed that the 5th September incident was not an isolated one and that “there have been reports of individuals from Chozuba and the surrounding areas consistently engaging in a pattern of harassment and theft against travellers from Zunheboto district and other districts.”
The Sumi Hoho said that in order to “effectively address and eradicate such criminal behaviour and harassment directed at travellers, it is imperative that the Sumi Hoho and the CPO collaborate to develop robust and actionable resolutions.”
The Sumi Music Forum too condemned “the alleged misconduct/ harassment” of a renowned musician and appealed to the concerned authority of that particular area to conduct thorough investigation and take action against miscreants involved in the harassment.
Meanwhile, the Chozuba Town Youth Association (CTYA) in its ‘clarification’, stated that its initiative of checking cars was implemented as part of the resolutions taken jointly by CTYA, Chozuba Town Women Welfare Society (CTWWS), Chozuba Town Chakhesang Students’ Union (CTCSU), and Goan Buras (GBs) on 3 August 2023 to curb the influx of Narcotic drugs and illegal liquors supplying within the Chozuba Range.
Regarding the 5th September incident, CTYA said that its volunteers were checking every passing vehicle that night as a result of an information from reliable sources who had mentioned that illegal substances were to be transported to the town by some travellers.
CTYA acknowledged that Abel Asumi’s car was stopped and checked but their statement completely contradicts Asumi’s claims.
According to CTYA, Asumi was “in an inebriated state”, “resisted and denied his cooperation with the volunteers,” and “started questioning the volunteers in a very boastful manner and obnoxious behavior which eventually led to exchange of arguments.”
The Association also denied the accusation made by Asumi that its volunteers on duty were under the intoxication of alcohol and proceeded to physical violence as “totally false and baseless.”
