Jamir escapes another attempt on life

Goa Governor and former chief minister of Nagaland S C Jamir on Saturday escaped an attempt on his life for the fourth time since 1993...

Goa Governor and former chief minister of Nagaland S C Jamir on Saturday escaped an attempt on his life for the fourth time since 1993, when militants fired mortar shells at his convoy. Jamir was on his way to Dimapur from his village Changki in Mokokchung district.

Official sources in Kohima said Jamir’s 20-vehicle convoy was attacked with automatic weapons and mortars near a bridge on a hilly road between Changki and Mariani in Jorhat district of Assam, but none hit the vehicles. The incident occurred around 6:30 am close to the Assam-Nagaland boundary. Jamir left for New Delhi from Dimapur later in the day.

The personal security escorting Jamir retaliated immediately and in the exchange of fire, a securityman was injured.

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The NSCN-IM on September 25 this year had declared Jamir ‘anti-people and anti-national’ and barred him from entering his home state. Intelligence sources in Nagaland said information was still being collated and it was too early to point fingers at anyone. “Of course, the threat was there. We all knew that,” the sources said, adding that the blasts were of low intensity.

Following the attack, the Nagaland Congress demanded President’s Rule in the state. Condemning the attack, Congress Legislative Party leader I Imkong told The Sunday Express that the Neiphiu Rio-led government has failed to provide security to the Goa Governor inspite of the NSCN-IM threat.