Dimapur, August 21 (MExN): A delegation of the Naga Mothers’ Association and the Naga Women Union of Manipur visited Ukhrul in Manipur during August 18-19 following the August 12 shootout at Shakok village. The visiting delegation was received by the Tangkhul frontal organizations, which was followed by a meeting at the Tangkhul Naga Long office, where matter related to “the incident” was discussed.
The NMA in a note today condemned the reported random bombing of civilian areas in and around the villages of Godah, Shakok, Loushing and Loushing Khunthak by personnel of the 23rd Assam Rifles by “employing the services of anti-social and criminal elements.”
NMA lamented: “It was shocking to see the entire area in a complete ‘war-like’ situation, where the people were stripped off of all sense of security and unable to do their normal activities. Women vigilante groups are in constant guard throughout the days and nights as the people are at a loss to understand what may come next? The entire population is overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, anger and frustration as there is no semblance of any law and order, either from the district administration, nor the state government of Manipur, leave alone the ‘least concern’ of the Government of India.”
The Naga Mothers’ Association “can only implore upon the wisdom of every Naga men and women to set aside their petty and personal differences and rise to the call of such occasions which have been our history and which are being lived again and again due to our own insensitivity to our responsibilities.” The NMA has expressed deep appreciation to the Tangkhul Naga women folk for their “essence of motherhood in coming out to defend the lives of their husbands and children through demonstration of their moral and physical courage.”
