Kohima, Feb. 8: The Nagaland government has come under scanner after yesterday's arson at Kiphire town with various communities coming down heavily on chief minister T.R. Zeliang and home minister Y. Patton.

Alemba Sangtam and Naro Tikhir, a young couple, were travelling in a Maruti Gypsy from Shamator town to Kiphire in Kiphire district when gunmen ambushed their car and killed them on Saturday. Sources said they were ambushed at Yei bridge under Shamator subdivision in Tuensang district.

Alemba was a teacher and Naro a nurse at Kiphire civil hospital. They are survived by four children.

Following the killings, there was arson in Kiphire town yesterday. Altogether 20 houses were damaged and three cars set on fire by an angry mob.

The mob also damaged the house of MLA T. Torechu at Kiphire town. Curfew has been imposed in Kiphire, but so far no top state official has visited the violence-affected area.

The fate of students is now uncertain as final examinations for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) will begin from February 10. Sources said the situation is under control, but there is tension in the area.

Tikhir organisations, while condemning the killings, have asked the Nagaland government to arrest the killers at the earliest. They have warned that they would take the law into their hands if the government fails to arrest the culprits.

Both communities who were part of the ongoing tension in Kiphire district and Shamator subdivision in Tuensang district, have accused the state government of poor governance.

Several organisations have also condemned yesterday's arson at Kiphire and asked the government to punish all those who have were involved in torching the houses.

They said if the government had imposed curfew sooner, the arson could have been avoided.

Patton has directed the police to arrest the culprits at the earliest. He said the state government is committed to work for peace and asked people to condemn all forms of violence.