KOHIMA, OCTOBER 29 (MExN): The Assam Rifles has refuted the allegations levelled against it following the October 23 gun battle with cadres of the GPRN/NSCN at Okotso village, Wokha. The AR PRO, in a media statement, stated that the Assam Rifles “have immense respect for all religions and will never take any step or action to disrespect any religious place of worship.”
The 28 Assam Rifles was accused of forcibly occupying Mekokla village Baptist Church building and guest house on October 22 and 23; the alleged episode coinciding with the October 23 gun battle in which one GPRN/NSCN cadre was killed and another injured, while one AR soldier was also wounded.
Terming the allegations as “a blatant lie” spread “to cover the wrong doings of UG Cadres”, the statement said that the AR comprises of a large number of Christian troops, some of whom were part of the Okotso operations. “The Assam Rifles remains committed to its motto ‘Friends of the Hill People’ and to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state,” it added.
As published earlier, the statement maintained that the Okotso operations was launched on the night of October 22 following intelligence inputs about the movement of armed cadres in “general area” Okotso. It added that the following morning, on October 23, presence of armed cadres in uniform was detected in a suspected camp 3 kms from the village.
Stating that the AR troops were fired upon first by the cadres, the statement said one of its soldiers was hit during the initial burst of fire that came their way with a bullet hitting the soldier’s bullet-proof jacket injuring him. In the exchange of fire that ensued, one GPRN/NSCN cadre was “neutralized” and another injured. The injured cadre was initially treated by the 28 AR Medical Officer and later evacuated to the Wokha District Hospital, it added.
While reiterating that the Ceasefire Ground Rules clearly prohibits carrying of arms by NPG cadres outside designated camps, it stated that during the October 23 fire fight, the nearest designated camp of the GPRN/NSCN was more than 50 kms away from Okotso. Two AK 47 rifles, one 12” bore gun, one .303 rifle, one G3 rifle and one .22 rifle along with a cache of ammunition were recovered by the 28 AR, the statement said.
