Kohima, March 18 (MExN): The Assam Rifles on Saturday rejected and condemned what it termed as baseless allegations made by the NSCN (KN) and GPRN that their members were allegedly harassed by AR personnel on March 15.
“The allegations are aimed at discouraging Assam Rifles from discharging their bonafide duties and obfuscating the blatant disregard to the Ceasefire Ground Rules,” it said in an official statement issued through the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing).
As per the release, based on specific inputs of likely presence of armed cadres in Zutovi village of Dimapur district, an operation was launched by the Assam Rifles, and “23 military cadres, without any written permission from CFMG office, were found inside a compound, at a sensitive place clearly violating the Cease Fire Ground Rules.” Post the incident, five Cease Fire Monitoring members arrived on the site at 11:30 am and the cadres were handed over to the police personnel at 1:30 pm, on their arrival, in presence of the CFMG members, it added.
The allegations are clearly, an afterthought as the incident took place on March 15 and the press articles were published on March 17/18, “apparently, due to a communiqué issued by violators of CFGRs themselves with the ulterior aim of maligning the image of a professional force whose history is replete with acts of valour, bravery and selfless service,” it maintained.
