Dimapur, January 22 (MExN): The Western Sumi Hoho (WSH), Western Sumi Kukami Hoho (WSKH) and the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) on January 22 jointly served a 48-hour ultimatum to the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) group over alleged assault and abduction of Kiyeto Zhimomi on January 19.
Zhimomi, a businessman, is also the Ato Kukau (village chief) of Vikuho village under Kuhuboto.
The development followed a joint emergency meeting of the three organisations, which termed the incident “unacceptable” and placed four demands before the group.
The ultimatum sought an unconditional public apology addressed specifically to the WSH and to the Sumi community at large, to be issued through mainstream print and digital media.
It further demanded the immediate surrender and arrest of all those involved in the incident to law-enforcement agencies.
The organisations also called for a retraction of a statement purportedly claiming that the WSH, WSKH and WSYF had mediated between the parties through dialogue, terming the claim “baseless” and intended to mislead the public.
In addition, the ultimatum, signed by WSH President Vikato K Achumi, WSKH President Khehovi Chophy and WSYF President Atokiho Sumi, demanded the shifting of the ceasefire monitoring cell from Thilixu village, citing violations of ceasefire ground rules.
Failure to comply with the demands within 48 hours of the notice would compel the Western Sumi to declare “total non-cooperation” against the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) group across all Western Sumi-inhabited areas, it added.
According to the businessman, he was abducted on the evening of January 19, blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was allegedly subjected to physical torture. He was released around 2AM on January 20.
While claiming responsibility for the January 19 incident, the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) on Wednesday claimed that Zhimomi was “arrested,” not abducted over alleged financial irregularities. It also denied allegation of torture while in captivity.
Meanwhile as per reports, security was heightened at the Ceasefire Supervisory Board office of the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) group at Thilixu under Chümoukedima district, with the entire area cordoned off by State and central security forces.
