Houses set ablaze, vehicle torched in Nagaland’s Mon district in post-poll violence

GUWAHATI: Unknown miscreants reportedly set ablaze at least 23 houses and the vehicle of a candidate who contested the just-concluded assembly election from Tizit constituency in Nagaland’s Mon district on Saturday night.

The houses belonged to supporters of BJP and Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Tizit town and the nearby Lukkun village, along the interstate border with Assam. The vehicle that was torched belonged to NPF candidate, Tahwang Angh, sources said.

“Police and security forces have been deployed in the disturbed areas and the situation is being closely monitored. Section 144 of the CrPC has been in force in Tizit town and the neighbouring areas since before polling began as we were apprehensive of untoward incidents,” Mon DC Ajit Kumar Verma said on Sunday.

Tizit witnessed a triangular contest between BJP, NPF and Congress but the saffron party won. BJP leaders accused youth Congress members of inciting the violence, though the latter dismissed the charges.

A BJP leader in Mon said the farmhouses in the backyards were mostly set on fire. No casualty has been reported yet. The miscreants have damaged tea and betel nut plantations, he added.

BJP’s P Paiwang Konyak won from Tizit by defeating his nearest rival, T Thomas Konyak of Congress. “NPF played spoilsport and Congress leaders are upset,” said the BJP leader.