Expressing grave concern over what it described as “a resurgence of lawlessness” in Dimapur, the Western Naga Youth Front (WNYF) has appealed to the Director General of Police (DGP), Commissioner of Police (CP) Dimapur, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dimapur and the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Supervisory Board to immediately implement strong preventive measures to restore public safety.
In an Open Letter issued by its Interim Convenor, Aga Rengma, the organization said what concerns citizens most is not merely the occurrence of crimes, but the brazen manner in which they are being perpetrated by individuals claiming affiliation with Naga national groups, operating with seeming impunity in broad daylight.
Stating that intimidation, abduction and extortion have become distressingly common, the WNYF said armed individuals are reportedly moving freely across the city despite the presence of law enforcement agencies, creating atmosphere of fear among ordinary citizens.
“The question that haunts every resident is: how can this be happening right under the nose of the very authorities entrusted with our safety?,” it said.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the police and administration such as limited resources, manpower constraints and complexities of managing security in a region with unique historical and political circumstances, the WNYF said acknowledgement of these limitations cannot become acceptance of the status quo.
The Front called for a shift in approach from law enforcement agencies, from reactive to proactive and from response to prevention.
“The current model, where authorities wait for complaints to be filed after crimes have been committed, leaves communities vulnerable and victims traumatized. By the time a case is registered and investigated, the damage has been done, lives have been disrupted, and the perpetrators have often melted away into the shadows,” it stated.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
The WNYF urged DGP, CP, SP and Chairman of CFSB to implement comprehensive preventive measures immediately, while intensifying security checks for arms and ammunition, not just in public spaces but also in private spaces where credible intelligence or information suggests the presence of illegal weapons.
“This is not about harassing innocent citizens but about ensuring that our city does not become a haven for armed intimidation,” it clarified.
The WNYF also stressed strict enforcement of ceasefire ground rules, stating that ceasefire agreements must not be misused as cover for criminal activities. It said those under ceasefire must be held accountable for violations, adding that monitoring should be rigorous, transparent and backed by real consequences.
“The ceasefire cannot become a shield behind which criminal activities flourish unchecked, nor can monitoring be merely a paper exercise while enforcement remains absent,” it asserted.
The WNYF emphasized on the need for coordinated intelligence gathering, regular security audits, visible patrolling in vulnerable areas and swift action against those who violate the law regardless of what organizational banner they claim to represent.
It said no group, no matter its political aspirations or historical grievances, has the right to terrorize ordinary citizens.
Stating that people of Dimapur are not asking for the ‘impossible’, the WNYF said citizens are only seeking their fundamental guarantee in any functioning democracy—the right to live without fear. It also appealed to the authorities to be as proactive in preventing crime as they are in investing it afterward.
Stating that the administration and police leadership must demonstrate they are willing and able to take decisive action, the Front said, “Half-measures and delayed responses only embolden those who see the law as an obstacle to be circumvented rather than a framework to be respected.”
