Accused in Zunheboto gunshot incident surrenders to police

January 28, 2025 25 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Zunheboto | January 28

A gunshot was fired at the Zunheboto District Forest Office (DFO) on the evening of January 24, around 7:30 PM, causing a brief disturbance within the office premises. The bullet struck a government vehicle parked on-site, but fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.

Initial reports indicated that the gunshot was mistaken by staff and nearby residents for a firecracker or a car tire explosion. The office’s night watchman was alerted to the sound, but upon investigating, found no one at the scene and was unable to identify the perpetrators.

The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) for Zunheboto, Obed Bohovi Swu, responded swiftly, arriving from his nearby residence. However, due to the absence of CCTV cameras at the office, there was no footage available to aid in the investigation. The office staff subsequently filed a First Information Report (FIR), prompting a police investigation.

It was discovered that the suspect was a former candidate who had applied for a position in the Nagaland Forest Management Project, a contract-based initiative under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The recruitment process, which began with an advertisement on November 1, 2024, attracted over 50 applicants for three available positions: Office Assistant, Livelihood Expert, and Monitoring Evaluation and Convergence Expert. After a screening process, nine candidates were shortlisted for interviews, with seven attending, including the accused. However, only three candidates were selected for the positions.

The accused’s brother visited the DFO’s office the following morning, informing them of his brother’s involvement in the incident. Under growing pressure, the accused voluntarily surrendered the weapon used in the shooting and is now in police custody. A case has been filed under the relevant sections of the law, confirmed Dr Tiamenla Phom, Additional SP and Public Relations Officer for DEF Zunheboto.

DFO Swu expressed regret over the accused’s violent actions, calling the incident unlawful and unfortunate. “It’s truly saddening to see such an incident unfold. Life might have big plans for him, but he made a grave mistake,” Swu remarked. “We have no ill will toward anyone, and it is beyond comprehension why this happened.”

It is assumed that the motive behind the shooting may have been triggered by the accused’s frustration over not securing one of the limited job positions in the competitive JICA-assisted project.

Despite the serious nature of the crime, DFO Swu emphasized that the office has no history of conflict with local individuals, focusing instead on serving the welfare of the people.