Dimapur, April 30 (MExN): The arrest warrant issued to two top NSCN-IM functionaries in connection with the murder of two children in Senapati, has run into a twin wall: Ceasefire ground rules and Pass-the-buck between the government, the Ceasefire Monitoring and the police administration. With each concern laying onus on the other, there is “confusion” which entity should actually execute the arrest warrant.
It is confirmed that the arrest warrant issued by a session’s court in Manipur has been received by the Dimapur police administration but the warrant remains unexecuted due to reservation of creating complications in the ceasefire in effect between the Government of Indian and the NSCN-IM. Moreover, there are certain stipulations in the ground rules which are preventing the police from arresting the two NSCN-IM functionaries, Kilo Kilonser Puni and deputy Kilonser of MIP, Kraibo Chawang, according to police officials. Mention may be made here that a session’s court in Manipur issued the warrant on April 11, 2007 against the two and other two other suspects. Muheni Martin and Hriini Hubert, both 10, were kidnapped on December 14, last year by unidentified persons and found murdered last month.
Owing to these ‘complications,’ the matter of arresting the two NSCN-IM leaders have been referred to the ‘higher-ups’ for necessary action. “The warrant has been referred to the higher-ups” said a high-ranking official from the Dimapur police administration. He said that the matter has been referred to the Director General of Police (DGP) office for consul about 10 days earlier.
Even while no word has been received from the DGP’s office, the police official maintained that “we cannot violate ceasefire ground rules.” For instance the Dimapur police cannot conduct raids or arrest the two NSCN-IM leaders “since we cannot go near their camp and keep away at least one kilometer from the (designated area).”
The police official however said that the matter is now in the hands of the DGP after which it shall be referred to the chairman of ceasefire monitoring Lt. Gen. (Retd.) RV Kulkarni.
Since it involved ceasefire ground rules vis-à-vis the GOI-NSCN (IM) ceasefire the matter was most imperative to the ceasefire Monitoring chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd.) RV Kulkarni. However, Kulkarni had only to say this: ‘This is the subject of government authorities and any action should be taken by the state government.’ He refused to comment any further because he was “far, far way” and out of station. The call was made to his residential number in Kohima.
The Director General of Police, J Changkija, IPS, on his part informed that he has yet to receive any intimation from the Dimapur police over the Manipur court’s arrest warrant. “We have not yet received it” he said. And passed the ball into Dimapur police’s court. “But if the session’s court has issued it, the police concerned have to execute it. It is the SP who will do it since it is in his jurisdiction” the DGP said of the Dimapur police” DGP Changkija said.
When contacted, ACS & Commissioner, Nagaland, TN Mannen said that the warrant from the sessions’ court would be examined only after the intimation is received. “We have not received yet” Mannen also said. “We will examine the whole matter after the matter is intimated to us” he added.
A senior state official, requesting not to be named, also said that action would be taken only after the whole case is reviewed. “It is a complicated issue. Nagaland is in a peculiar kind of situation” the official said elaborating that there are armed cadres openly moving about and the police just “cannot enter Hebron Camp simply like that and arrest the two.” He however opined that since the warrant is in connection to a crime and falling within law and order precincts, if the case is found plausible, charges would be framed against the two Kilonsers.
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