Dimapur, October 1 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today stated that the arrest of two of its cadre in an ‘alleged case of abduction’ on September 29 had nothing to do with “kidnapping” as alleged. It accused the victim, Abdul Kayum Talukdar, Gaonbura(GB) of New Market, Dimapur, of cheating a group of people, who jointly bought a plot of land in Khatkhati, Assam.
A rejoinder from the NSCN (IM)’s MIP said that a group of Nagas had bought a plot of land, of about 100 bighas in Khatkhati. Subsequently, it claimed that the plot was “entrusted” to some non-Nagas to temporarily stay as “care-takers (tenants).”
On the first week of September, 2023, the Naga owners of the plot, along with Talukdar, went to the site and informed the tenants to vacate as the land was going to be disposed, it said. This was followed up by another visit, accompanied by prospective buyers, to check out the plot, a few weeks later.
However, it held that the tenants got agitated on seeing the owners and the prospective buyers and confronted them “with deadly arms,” while claiming that Talukdar “has sold the land to them and they are not going to part with the land...”
“Somebody was also heard threatening Abdul on phone not to allow the land to be disposed off,” it maintained, while adding that the original documents (patta) are with the Naga group, who bought the said plot.
The rejoinder did not mention how they retreated from the site. However, following the incident, it said that the land owners tried to call Talukdar to settle the matter but he allegedly ignored their calls and refused to meet them.
As a result and in order to settle to case, it said that Naga Army personnel were entrusted with the task of bringing Talukdar to Hebron. It said, “He was just picked up and they were on the way to Hebron. He was not blind-folded nor his hands tied.”
On their way to Hebron, with Talukdar in tow, they were stopped at a police checkpoint, at the Singrijan-Selouphe junction, where Talukdar told the police personnel he was abducted. While accusing Talukdar of having a hand in other fraud cases, the rejoinder questioned how he was made the GB of New Market when his actual residence was in Khatkhati.
