DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has expressed unhappiness over the way in which the Assam Rifles has been conducting itself especially its interpretation of the Ceasefire Ground Rules. A press note issued by the MIP has stated that when “certain actions comes in contrary to the rules and regulations that monitors the 2nd Indo-Naga ceasefire, reaction and condemnation will naturally follow and in the strongest terms as deem necessary”.
The NSCN (IM) stated that it was “shocked beyond measure” when its Cease Fire Monitoring Cell received a letter signed by one Major, Adjutant for Commandant, 29 Assam Rifles and attested by one Captain Adjutant 29 Assam Rifles. The letter stated thus, “This unit is tasked to collect the land details of Hebron designated camp during the initial settlement of the 1999.” According to the MIP, the letter further authorized one Shankar Singh of 29 AR to collect the date/sketches of the above mentioned camp.
This according to the NSCN (IM) was totally against the norms of the Cease fire monitoring. “Anything that has to do with Cease fire rules has to be initiated with the sanction of the Chairman of CFMG and if necessary be discussed in the Cease fire ground rule meeting. The 29 AR cannot bypass any official norms under any given situation”, the MIP note stated.
The NSCN (IM) stated that it had also received a letter from National Investigation Agency (NIA) from its Gauhati Office. It went on to suggest that dealing with the NIA did not come under the purview of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell and therefore, it cannot entertain such directive.
Another unwarranted action against NSCN (IM) has also come from the 31 Assam Rifles under Col Vikram Singh, the MIP note informed. According to the NSCN (IM), the Colonel of the 31 Assam Rifles has ordered destruction/dismantling of the Hevito Battalion, Naga Army, New Chungtia on the pretext that the camp is totally illegal as it is against the Ceasefire Ground Rules and it also poses a serious security threat to the local population, Mariani-Mokokchung highway and conduct of Assembly Election.
According to the MIP note, this Battalion has been in existent for more than 15 years. “Ceasefire was enforced for more than 15 years and why the realisation now that it poses a threat to the local population? Such nonsensical action of 31 AR is totally unwarranted and therefore, we condemn in the strongest term”, the MIP note stated.
