Says cadre acted on his own accord, expresses regret
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 23
A regional functionary of the NSCN (IM) was apprehended by the security forces in Mokokchung district for allegedly decreeing voters to vote against a BJP candidate in the 2023 Nagaland Assembly polls scheduled on February 27. As per official sources, the functionary was the CAO (Ao Region). He was apprehended on the night of February 22 by the Assam Rifles from a village in the Tzurangkong valley, which falls under the 30 Alongtaki Assembly seat. He was later handed over to the Mokokchung police.
The order was purportedly issued to the village councils on February 21, in the 30 Alongtaki Assembly seat, directing the villages to not vote in favour of the BJP candidate claiming that the candidate was an RSS member and anti-Naga in character. Warning “defaulters” of stern action, as per the NSCN (IM) ‘Ahza,’ it claimed that the order had the consent of the NSCN (IM) Kilo Kilonser.
It was reportedly confidential communication intended only for the village councils but was leaked to surface on social media. It had the NSCN (IM) leadership scrambling for damage control with the sources stating that senior leaders huddled in Camp Hebron on February 22, to deliberate on the issue.
On February 23, the NSCN (IM)’s Ministry of Information and Publicity issued a media clarification dismissing the alleged directive “in the matter of Temjen Imna Along's candidature in the ensuing Nagaland state Assembly election.” Dated February 22, the clarification maintained that the order was issued by Lanuwati Jamir, CAO (Central Administrative Officer) of the Ao Region, based in the Tzurangkong valley, on his own accord. “There is no written order from the Ministry of Kilo Affairs. The so-called directive order that has gone viral in the social media platforms and confusion thus created is regretted,” it said.
