The Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur has issued a press release where it clarified the high speed chase that took place on 25th July 2024 in Niuland district that ultimately resulted in the death of one person named Ngukavi Yeptho.

According to the police, the incident was related to a FIR lodged on the same day at the Women Police Station, Dimapur which alleged that “a group of four to five unknown miscreants in a white Scorpio vehicle abducted, assaulted and robbed two persons at the four lane highway under Showuba Village, who were returning home in a vehicle after dropping off a relative.”

The Police said that during the investigation, it was revealed that after overpowering the victims, one of whom was a woman, the assailants blindfolded them and forcefully took the victims to an unknown location, where the victims were not only robbed of their cash and belongings but even money from their bank accounts were forcefully transferred to an account via Gpay transactions.

Preliminary investigation also revealed that the woman victim was “physically and sexually assaulted”, stated the police. Further, “while committing their crime, the assailants disrobed the victims and took photographs and videographs of the victims too with the intention to blackmail them from reporting the matter to the police”, it added.

The Dimapur Police informed that a “covert operation” was launched to nab the suspects “based on the investigation and the digital footprints recovered” and on the night of 25th July 2024, a team was dispatched to Tokugha Village under Niuland district where one of the prime suspects, Ngukavi Yeptho, was located.

As the team was approaching the village, the team spotted Yeptho fleeing on a motobike which resulted in a hot pursuit, the Police said.

It stated: “During the chase, the officers who were operating under cover in a private vehicle identified themselves as police and repeatedly warned the suspect to stop but he did not pay any heed to the repeated warnings and in the process the hike skidded and he lost his balance and fell on the road. The speeding vehicle which was in hot pursuit of the suspect could not stop instantly and one of the tyres slightly ran over the bike and the rider and ultimately crushed on the right side of the road into a drainage.”

Dimapur Police said that the injured suspect was rushed to Referral Hospital but he died. “All legal formalities were observed and the body was sent to District hospital Dimapur for conduct of Post Mortem,” it added.

The Police further informed that a case has been registered in Niuland Police Station on the vehicle chase and death for further investigation.

Also, in order to ensure fair and impartial investigation, police personnel involved in the incident have been placed under suspension, informed the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur.