Nagaland CM demands exemplary punishment for attack on Nagas

Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and lone Lok Sabha MP form the state Neiphiu Rio have demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the unprovoked attack on Naga youths at Sikanderpur village in Gurgaon on the night of October 15.

In a letter addressed to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Zeliang yesterday made an earnest appeal to ensure that the guilty are arrested and brought to book. He also urged Hooda to take all steps to prevent such inhuman acts.

Zeliang said it is a matter of great disappointment that people from the North East region were being subjected to such attacks. It is indeed a matter of immense concern that such acts of racial attacks continue with impunity, he said.

Expressing concern that hate crimes against the people of the north eastern region were on the rise all over the country, especially in the metropolitan cities and the national capital region, Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio urged the Centre to take immediate action and also undertake all necessary measures that would reassure that the citizens of the north eastern region were equal citizens of this nation.

Stating that these incidents of hate crime deserve to be condemned by every right thinking citizen, Rio demanded that the perpetrators of the crimes must be given exemplary punishment in the greater interest of the country's unity and integrity.

"The victims must be appropriately compensated, cared for and rehabilitated and the region must be reassured or else the consequences of neglect and inaction will be detrimental to the national interest of our country," Rio said.

He said the country must win back the trust of the people of the North East and the matter must be approached as a grave national issue.

Rio said it is indeed unfortunate and sad to observe that citizens of the country were being treated and attacked like foreign nationals and enemies of the nation.

"In fact, the perpetrators of racist hate crimes must be considered enemies of the nation and punished accordingly," he said.

" The country must wake up to the reality of the situation and act in a firm and urgent manner," the Naga MP added.