Dimapur, September 5 (MExN): The ‘May I Help You Organisation’ (MIHYO) Northeast India today said it is astonished to find that the Prime Minister’s “idea of a unified Northeast is the exact reverse of reality.”
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the MIHYO Northeast India said that during the BJP national executive meeting on July 3, 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the disputes and problems in the Northeast region would be resolved by 2024.
“In the midst of the hostile environment with Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland,” the organization cited the alleged custodial death of Henveih Phom at Sivasagar District Jail on August 21. The police are supposed to serve as a shield for the populace, not their exploiter, it said.
It said that the governments of Nagaland and Assam are working deliberately to create a peaceful neighbouring atmosphere. The signing of an agreement to end the standoff on the eastern front was a major development in defusing tensions along the Assam-Nagaland border, a historic development for both states. However, it is quite upsetting that the Assam police are spoiling the peaceful process, it observed.
The organiastion pointed out that there have been many instances of killings in the Assam Nagaland border over the years. “Despite the mounting pressure from the Nagaland side, such instances remain unsolved. Such occurrences do little to increase the trust of the people of Nagaland towards the other states' law enforcement. Such incidents only undermine and negate the environment at a time when the border dispute in the region is being pursued through mutual dialogue,” it added.
The MIHYO condemned the “murder of our fellow Nagas,” and said that “violence and racial discrimination against people residing within the neighbouring state must end.” It said that the north eastern states should live in peace and be united. It added that the police should safeguard all of the residents of the Northeast, including children irrespective of the state they belong to.
“A strict law must be passed and put into effect to protect those who are in police custody. We plead the Indian government to prevent any such killings in the neighbouring state since they only serve to stoke the fire and threaten the unity and integrity of the nation,” the organization stated.
It demanded that justice be served to the victims' families as soon as possible and that the criminals be charged in accordance with the law.
