Police seek blocking of sites, bulk SMSes

Members of a mob pull a man, centre with blooded face, accused of rape, out of the Central Jail where he was held in Dimapur. (Source: AP photo)

The Nagaland government has suspended Dimapur district Superintendent of Police Meren Jamir, Deputy Commissioner Wezope Kenye and Dimapur Central Jail Senior Superintendent B Chuba Phum with immediate effect.

The state police on Saturday also sought to block sending of bulk SMSes as well as some websites to prevent provocation and spread of rumours following lynching of a rape-accused on Thursday.

“A lot of rumours are being spread through the social media in connection with Thursday’s incident. Most young people today have mobile phones through which they can transmit messages and visuals,” a senior police officer said. In fact, a lot of “objectionable pictures” are already on social media.

The state government also announced a one-man judicial inquiry headed by Veprasa Nyekha, retired district and sessions judge, into the death of Syed Sharif Khan at the hands of a mob in Dimapur and other related incidents including the death of a civilian in police firing.

Meanwhile, even as the police described the situation as “tense but under control”, Dimapur continued to be under curfew for the third consecutive day.

“We have deployed 12 companies of state reserved police, and three companies each of the CRPF and Assam Rifles… Security has been increased around mosques and localities inhabited by people from the minority community,” Nagaland IGP Wabang Jamir said.

Source:: Indian Express