Communal Tension Grips Nagaland After Couple Shot Dead

A husband and his wife were shot dead. Picture for representation. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Communal tension broke out in Kiphire district of Nagaland on Sunday after a couple travelling in a car was shot dead by two motorbike-riding assailants.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that prohibits unlawful assembly has been imposed in the district.

According to police, the husband, a government school teacher, belonging to the Sangtam tribe was travelling in a car to a village with his wife who was a nurse belonging to the Tikhir tribe.

Both tribes have an age-old rivalry over land issues.

Both the deceased were posted in Kiphire. They went to meet relatives in Shamator village when they were shot dead by two unknown people on a motorbike. 

<b>Police Official to IANS</b>

As per a preliminary report, the two attackers belonged to the Yimchunger tribe, which is also involved in land disputes with various other Naga tribes including Sangtam, Tikhir and Chang, police said.