The newlywed son of NSCN-U’s kilo kilonser (home minister) Bohoto Kiba and the bride, who brandished assault rifles at their wedding ceremony in Dimapur, were arrested by police on Wednesday.
However, the married couple was later released on bail.
Dimapur Police also arrested two cadres of the NSCN (Kitovi-Neokpao) for allowing unauthorised display of firearms by the newlywed couple during the marriage ceremony at 5th Mile in Dimapur on November 9.
The arrested cadres are Ato Sumi, 23, son of Nevishe, of Zhekishe village under Niuland PS in Dimapur district and Mughaho, 28, son of Kikheto, of Satakha under Zunheboto district.
Also read: ‘Guns N Roses’ at NSCN-U minister son’s wedding reception
“The arrests were made after taking suo moto cognizance and subsequent verification regarding the case of the married couple posing with arms, photos of which were widely circulated on the social media,” additional DCP and PRO of Dimapur Police, T. Relo Aye, said.
Police on Tuesday registered a case at Diphupar PS against the couple after pictures and videos of the bride and groom holding automatic rifles – AK 56 and M16 – went viral.
The Nagaland governor and Naga peace interlocutor RN Ravi also directed the DGP to register a case and act against the couple.
Also read: Nagaland Governor directs DGP to register case against couple with arms
This blatant display of weapons has taken place in the rundown a final agreement likely to be signed between the Naga insurgent groups including the NSCN-IM and the Centre.
The pictures of the newlywed brandishing assault weapons as part of the post-wedding photoshoot at 5th Mile in Dimapur were picked up by the media forcing the Nagaland DGP T. John Longkumer to act.
He instructed the Dimapur commissioner of police, Rothihu Tetseo, to investigate the matter.
Reacting to the report of the newlywed couple holding guns, Nagaland Congress president K. Therie said the sense of lawfulness and obedience to law is no more in Nagaland.
“Anybody can do anything in the state,” he said in a statement.
Therie demanded that the governor or any head of the state have to take appropriate lawful action.
He added they cannot leave lawlessness at loose like that.
“The lawlessness in the state has been exposed through this display of sophisticated weapons by a groom and bride. I think this proves that the state government has lost control of law and order,” he said.
Therie said the Naga political groups may be under ceasefire but the weapons should be in the designated camps and not at a wedding or any public place.
“It is the state government’s responsibility to control all the unauthorised weapons,” he added.
In another case, a senior functionary of an underground group Motsuthung Ngullie, son of Ntsenthung Ngullie, of Notun Bosti here was arrested on Monday for unauthorised use and discharge of firearms in public area.
A .32 pistol with four live rounds was seized from his possession.
A case was registered with West police station in this connection, police said.