DIMAPUR, MAY 18 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today said that “there is a battle against human rights violation in Longding district” of Arunachal.
Amidst the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSCN (IM) alleged that the “19th Sikh Regiment is recklessly moving about in villages in Longding district (Wancho Region) targeting innocent villagers.”
A press release from the MIP of the NSCN (IM) said that on May 14, one villager of Pumoa village was “picked up” by the 19th Sikh Regiment and assaulted. “Before he was released he was made to sign a paper without disclosing the content of the paper. He was also threatened not to reveal this incident to anyone,” the NSCN (IM) said.
Again on May 15, it informed that another villager of Pumoa was picked up when he was returning from church. “He was inhumanly tortured for no clear reason,” it alleged.
The NSCN (IM) stated that the villagers invited the Indian army personnel “to settle the score in a peaceful manner.” It however alleged that when meeting “progressed touching the core of the human right violation the army personnel blushed and hurriedly started leaving the meeting.”
“Thereafter, a commotion broke out as villagers stood up in anger not ready to accept the indignity. Some of the infuriated youths started pelting stones at the army personnel,” it added. The NSCN (IM) alleged that the army personnel “retaliated with live bullets, leading to the killing of one Lamdan Lukham on the spot and injuring six others.”
The NSCN (IM) further termed the PRO Defenses’ press release on the issue as “nothing less than a hilarious statement to absolve itself from the criminal assault on innocent villagers.”
It condemned the incident and said that “Indian security forces are taking shelter under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is shamelessly finding luxury to find its way to ablutions.”
It further expressed condolences to the bereaved family members.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to make the world hear of the human rights violation in Longding district and other places in Arunachal Pradesh. We are in solidarity with the organizations fighting for the just cause of the Pumoa people. We shall let the world know that your gesture of peace has been responded with live bullets,” the NSCN (IM) stated.
It meanwhile stated that the approach of mainstream media on human rights violation issue against the Naga people need to be “reinvented” and henceforth must start playing impartial role to arrest the cause of alienation that may follow if mishandled by media.
.jpg)
