Kohima, July 25 (MExN): A host of Naga civil organizations have now said that they will “befittingly contest” a legal notice issued to the President of the Pochury Students’ Union by the 46 Assam Rifles.
A press communiqué issued by the Naga Students’ Federation (President, Subenthung Kithan), the Naga Hoho (General Secretary, Mutsikhoyo Yhobu), the Naga Mother’s Association (President, Abeui Meru) and the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (Kenneth Mao) today informed that these bodies as well as their federating units, subordinate bodies and senior leaders had a joint consultative meeting on the issue on July 25 at 11:00am at the NSF office conference hall.
The civil society discussed the alleged “phone call and SMS threat” to the President of the Pochury Students’ Union (PSU).
They ‘condemned’ the legal notice issued to the President of the PSU for “organizing the candle light service at Kohima on the night of July 16, 2016, in remembrance of the brutal killing of two promising innocent students namely Lt. Tüzali and Lt. Aso” at Wuzu Village under Meluri sub-division, Phek District.
The legal notice that was reportedly issued to the President PSU by a warrant officer, Bravo Company of the 46th AR unit, “will be befittingly contested on all counts,” informed the Naga civil bodies. “The Assam Rifles shall be held solely responsible if any untoward incidents or consequences happen to the President PSU,” they asserted.
Lackadaisical attitude of JIC
Meanwhile, the house also questioned the “lackadaisical attitude” of the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) constituted by the Nagaland State Government. It urged the JIC to “deliver justice at the earliest without further delay or face befitting action from the Naga frontal organisations.”
They stated, “Even after the lapse of one year into the brutal killing of two innocent students, report is awaited from the end of Assam Rifles and administration to be submitted to the JIC. For which, the house express their anguish and resentment to JIC and the State Government.”
The JIC on the Wuzu Incident had clarified a week back that the delay had been caused by the State Government requesting the report of the March 5, 2015, Dimapur lynching incident to be submitted first, followed by bureaucratic hurdles faced by the JIC. The JIC had set a July 20, 2016, deadline for witnesses in the Wuzu Incident to submit Written Statements in affidavits to the office of the JIC.
Angami Students’ Union ‘vexed’
Meanwhile, the Angami Students’ Union has stated that it is “totally dumbfounded and vexed” at the action of the 46 Assam Rifles ‘Charlie Coy’ litigating a legal notice against the President of the Pochury Students’ Union for holding a candlelight service in memory of Late Aso and Late Tüzali.
The Union condemned the act of the Warrant officer, Bravo Company of the 46th Assam Rifles who had reportedly issued the legal notice which, it stated, “directly reflects the outlook of the Assam Rifles towards the students’ community and the Nagas at large.”
“The so called Friends of the Hill people threatening a respected students body leader is totally uncalled for and it shows the attitude of the ‘Friends’ towards the Nagas at a crucial time when the ‘Peace Accord’ has been signed and in the process of outcome,” maintained the ASU in a press release from its General Secretary Visako Rino and Vice President Zekuseto Natso.
The AR issuing a legal notice is a “dishonorable and cowardly act on the part of the protectors of the nation who not only failed to protect the two innocent children but continue to invent lies to cover up their acts,” noted the ASU. It also found “rather absurd” that the AR “who proudly labels themselves as ‘Friends of the Hill People’ will oppose the people they are supposed to protect.”
“Instead of building goodwill and peace, by issuing the legal notice, they are waging enmity against a student body who is working towards the rights and protection of students in Nagaland,” the Union reiterated.
The ASU further appealed the Government of Nagaland to expedite the revoking of the Disturbed Areas Act in Nagaland, which empowers the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the area.
“Ever since the imposition of the AFSPA in Naga areas, the civilians have suffered enough and beyond and most dishearteningly, the students continue to be victims of the draconian law,” the Angami Students’ Union maintained.
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