The nearly completed ‘historical monument’ at Mangmetong village under Mokokchung which was destroyed by the personnel of the 9th Assam Rifles led by its Commandant on July 9, 2010.
Our Correspondent
Mangmetong (Mkg) | July 21
Expressing deep resentment over the action of the 9th Assam Rifles in the destruction of a historical monument in the village on July 9, the Mangmetong Village Council today declared that it would pursue the matter with the personnel of the 9th Assam Rifles stationed at Mokokchung till the end. The council declared that it would go ahead with the construction of the monument and that the youths of Mangmetong village are willing to sacrifice to defend their rights and liberty.
Interacting with local media persons today at Mangmetong village community hall, the secretary of the Mangmetong village council, Talimeren Tzudir narrated that the whole incident occurred, after the Mangmetong Senso Mungdang (citizens’ conference) on November 3, 2009 endorsed the construction of a ‘historical monument’ at the village highlighting the past history of the village especially with regard to the Naga issue.
The ‘historical monument’ which was sanctioned at more than Rs 5 lakhs, was supposed to bear testimony of Mangmetong village’s past history like their refusal to work as labour for the British; refusal to pay taxes to the Indian government, their role in the Naga plebiscite, burning down of the village 19 times by the Indian Army and as tribute to Lt Tajenyuba Ao.
However, words reached the Assam Rifles and on January 3, 2010, the commandant of the 9th Assam Rifles invited all ex-servicemen from Mangmetong village and council members and discussed the mater related to the ongoing construction of the monument with the Dy commandant and Adjutant Commandant.
“The Assam Rifles even objected to the use of the word ‘Kuknalim’, but we said that it is a Naga word,” said Talimeren Tzudir, MVC secretary while disclosing about the January 3, 2010 meeting with the 9th AR.
However, the Assam Rifles requested the village council to withhold the construction of the monument, since the peace talks between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India was scheduled to be held in February. The village council waited till June, 2010. However, since there was no information from the Assam Rifles, the Mangmetong citizens decided to restart the work on July 1, 2010.
However, on July 9, the commandant of the 9th Assam Rifles Col Rohit Khare came in three vehicles searching for the village council chairman, when the major construction work on the monument was completed and only finishing touches were being given. The commandant questioned the council chairman why he was not opposing the construction of the monument. The chairman told the commandant that the issue had to be discussed through the council only, and therefore, a council meeting was called. However, in the meantime, the 9th AR commandant went off and broke the monument. Saying that the granite used in the monument were imported from Rajasthan, the village council said that the Assam Rifles took away the marble plaques in a white Maruti Gypsy, while the granite used in the monument were shattered on the spot.
In this regard, the Mangmetong Village Council termed the action of the 9th Assam Rifles as “barbaric action” and demanded that the erring Assam Rifles commandant be punished ‘as per the law of the land’.
A ‘council member’ declared that the village would go ahead with the construction of the monument, and the Mangmetong village youths are willing to guard the monument and even sacrifice their lives to guard the truth that happened in the village.
“We are not writing anything against Col Rohit Khare or the Assam Rifles, we are just writing what they did and what happened in this village,” said an elder who attended the meeting. Other elders who attended the meeting recounted the days in 1956 when the Indian Army burned down the village nineteen times from 6th May to 19 October 1956.
Meanwhile, the Ongpangkong Watsu Mungdang (Ongpangkong range women conference) also visited the village today and held interaction with the Mangmetong Village Council. The OWM president, Rongsenlemla, while strongly condemning the action of the 9th Assam Rifles, expressed solidarity with the MVC and said that the womenfolk are also in solidarity with the council, and urged them to pursue the matter till the end.
It is worth mentioning here that the action of the 9th AR in Mangmetong has apparently hurt the sentiments of the people who still holds troubled times (especially the atrocities of the Indian Army, in the 1950’s) very deeply in their heart. The Ongpagkong Students Conference, Ongpangkong Mungdang, Mangmetong Watsu Unit, Mangmetong Students’ Union, Mangmetong Village Council have already aired their resentment and condemnation over the action of the 9th Assam Rifles. The MVC have lodged an FIR with the Mokokchung police station, and it is learnt that 9th AR commandant Col Rohit Khare was summoned by police for questioning. Further details are awaited, as investigation is on by police. A formal report has also been submitted to the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner by the Mangmetong village Council.
Words of storm?
The following is the exact words that were supposed to be engraved on the monument.
‘Mangmetong Village Historical Monument’
‘Inscribed herein are some of the important historical events that the people of this Village took part in the cause of the Naga Political Movement.
1. Fought and won the right not to work as labors for the then British authorities.
2. Argues and won not to pay taxes to the Indian Government.
3. The first village in Ao area and second amongst the Nagas to voluntarily take part in the Historic Naga Plebiscite of May 1951.
4. Has the distinction of burning down the whole Village Nineteen (19) times by the Indian army.
5. Lt Mr Tajenyuba Ao, a son of the soil, though was an elected MLA, a Nationalist to the core, gave his full support to the Naga Political cause and the fruit of which one can see in the form of the ongoing Naga Peace Process for a permanent political solution.
These, lest we forget, place in record through this monument for posterity.
Kuknalim.’
