Dimapur, March 23 (MExN): The NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) has flayed 11th Assam Rifles (Zunheboto) for arrest of three of its members “without justification” on March 21 at Aghunato Town.
“This action reflects the security forces’ belligerent attitude, aimed at disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in the area,” it stated.
A press release from the MIP, NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) alleged that the trio arrested after intercepting a vehicle at around 5PM were “forcibly taken” to the Tizu River.
“When no illegal arms or incriminating documents were found during their apprehension, and they were physically assaulted (tortured) and threatened with dire consequences to extract information about arms and ammunition,” the release claimed.
According to the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato), the 11th AR also resorted to inducing a fear psychosis tactic by isolating one member, Kiyeto Kinny (Tuto Kinny) and allegedly “intimidating and coercing him to falsely claim that the other two NSCN members had forcibly recruited him.”
He was threatened with execution upon release from jail but he refused to comply with “nefarious plot,” it claimed.
The NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) also stated that after “failing to indict the members, they were taken back to Aghunato Town and halted at Litsu Junction.”
It also accused the security forces intending to stage a “fake encounter” at the junction, but it was “only averted due to the timely intervention of the NSCN Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB/NSCN).”
The11th AR has also conducted three intensive searches of the vehicle at the interception site and an additional search at the Aghunato Town Police Outpost, finding no illegal materials, the release said.
However, March 22 at 10AM, the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) claimed that the 11th AR on the pretext of conducting another re-check of the vehicle allegedly planted a photo copy “taxation slip in the vehicle using sleight of hand to falsely implicate the members.”
In this connection, the NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) denounced the “repeated violations of Ceasefire Ground Rules by security forces” which are systematically overlooked.
It is highly questionable how violations of the Ceasefire Ground Rules by the Security forces are always covered up and the erring officers and personnel go unpunished, it added, citing many instances like “Oting incident.”
It also condemned the apparent “impunity granted to personnel involved in unwarranted intrusions, privacy breaches, and human rights abuses under the guise of maintaining law and order.”
The NSCN-K (Khango-Hokato) also stated that the “provocative actions” by the AR ahead of the upcoming review of the NSCN-GoI ceasefire extension, risk jeopardising Nagaland’s fragile peace.
The AR should not derail the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in Nagaland by stirring up unwanted situation just to benefit from the precarious situation, it added.
