DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 11 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has alleged of unlawful surveillance and infiltration of their private WhatsApp group reportedly by an Assam Rifles officer in the rank of a Major, who is stationed at Avangkhu under Phek district. The GNF claimed that the Major secretly embedded himself the group and monitored their discussions for over five months before he was discovered and removed.
In an open letter to Major General Manish Kumar, Inspector General, Assam Rifles (N), the GNF expressed their concern about the Major's actions, describing them as a serious violation of constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and privacy.
The GNF questioned the implications of military intrusion into a forum focused on peace and human rights, asking, "What kind of country does that make India?" it expressed dismay over the historical context of military operations in the Naga homeland, particularly referencing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and its impact on the Naga people.
A specific incident highlighted by the GNF occurred on April 24, 2024, when the Major allegedly stopped and interrogated GNF member Thongtsumiu at a border checkpoint. According to the GNF, the Major confiscated Thongtsumiu’s mobile phone and demanded to be added to the GNF group. When Thongtsumiu refused, he was reportedly denied entry into Nagaland and forced to return to his village in Myanmar.
The GNF condemned Major's actions as a grave infringement of their rights, stating that there was no legal justification for such surveillance in a democratic society. It characterized his behavior as unbecoming of an officer and highlighted the psychological impact of such threats on innocent civilians.
Citing Articles 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Indian Constitution, the GNF argued that Major’s actions violated citizens' rights to free speech and privacy. It also referenced the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), emphasizing the right of Indigenous Peoples to maintain contacts and cooperate freely.
“Major’s egregious intrusion on the GNF occurred without the slightest legal justification—no warrant, no judicial oversight, no legitimate basis in law. India’s actions like Major’s not only trample on constitutional guarantees but also blatantly violate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), particularly Article 36, which affirms the right of Indigenous Peoples to maintain and develop contacts, relations, and cooperation, including the right to move freely across borders, within their own traditionally occupied territories,” it underscored.
The forum called for clarification on the legal grounds that allowed Major and Assam Rifles to infiltrate a private citizen’s group with the intent of monitoring discussions on socio-cultural and sensitive human rights issues.
It sought details on the legal rationale that allowed him and Assam Rifles to violate the constitutional rights of Naga citizens for over five months without any legal sanction or due process.
It also demanded to know what immediate punitive measures will be taken against the Major and any other personnel complicit in these violations and how is he or they going to be held accountable under the law.
The GNF urged General Kumar to take immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future and establish guidelines to protect citizens' rights against similar violations. It expressed hope that the Assam Rifles, under General Kumar's leadership, would address these concerns seriously and uphold the rule of law. The GNF awaits a prompt response and assurances that such violations will not occur again, it added.
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