Kohima, Nov. 8: Tension has gripped Dimapur after Dimapur Municipal Council chairperson Khekaho Assumi was ambushed last night in the heart of the commercial town by suspected Naga militants.

He escaped with a bullet injury on his left leg.

Assumi was ambushed near Dimapur deputy commissioner’s official residence last night around 9 by three armed persons. Police immediately rushed the DMC chairperson to Dimapur civil hospital. At least five shots were fired at the vehicle in which Assumi was travelling with a close relative.

The district administration has clamped Section 144 CrPC in Dimapur town to prevent a backlash.

The Dimapur district administration today, however, said so far no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the town.

Additional security forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas as a precautionary measure. Assam Rifles, CRPF and India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel have also been deployed to assist the district administration.

Dimapur police said all efforts are being made to arrest the assailants, but refused to divulge details about the investigation process.

But the needle of suspicion points at Naga rebels. Neither faction of the NSCN has reacted to the incident so far.

Earlier yesterday, hundreds of businessmen and some prominent citizens of Dimapur decided to go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow if the administration failed to book Assumi within 24 hours for assaulting a prominent non-Naga businessman of Dimapur.

The DMC chairperson allegedly beat up Shankar Ray, a businessman from Bihar, on Friday near his shop.

Even after the clamping of Section 144 CrPC, a mob attacked Ray’s house at NST colony last night after the incident. No one was hurt in the attack.

Sources here said the government was taking all precautionary measures to thwart a backlash because of last night’s incident.

Home minister Imkong L. Imchen has rushed to Dimapur to take stock of the situation. Today, he convened a meeting of high-level district administration officials and directed them to take all necessary precautionary measures to control the situation.

He said all efforts are being made to arrest the culprits and punish them. He also appealed to the people to remain calm as the state government was determined to bring the assailants to book stating that the police were looking for the culprits.

He said the government was investigating into the alleged assault on Ray by the DMC chairperson. Imchen also strongly condemned last night’s attack.