Apropos the recent skirmish that took place between the Assam Police and the Wangcho Nagas in Arunachal Pradesh, it is hereby clarified that NSCN has no hand in this connection, as against the news items published in some local dailies of Assam. On being implicated, an enquiry committee was set up to probe into the incident which established the fact that the incident was a mere case of encroachment. In their systematic policy of annexation, the Assam Police set up an outpost in the heart of Rangloah village in Kanubari circle of Longding Sub-division, Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. This unwanted development agitated the sentiments of the villagers. Therefore, they vehemently opposed this move and consequently burnt down the outpost. In retaliation, the adjacent Assam villagers jumped into the scenario at the behest of Assam Police, thereby creating unnecessary tension along the border. For all consequences, Assam Police shall solely be responsible.
This incident, on the other hand, exposed the lackadaisical attitude of Arunachal Government towards the Nagas in the state. For decades, the Nagas there have been subjected to alienation and deprivation. The Arunachal government terribly failed to protect the land, resources and the interest of the Nagas in Tirap and Changlang districts of the state. It is to be noted that the ancestral lands of the Nagas encompassing the vast virgin forests and tea gardens along the states border have been systematically snatched away by the Assam government. What have the Arunachal government done to ensure the security of the people and their land? It is only the people themselves who stand up against the encroachers every time there is a threat. Therefore, it is reasserted to clarify once and for all that no Naga Army personnel was involved in the incident.
Undermining these facts, blaming the Naga undergrounds for the unfortunate incident is quite uncalled for. As for us, we understand that our enemies are brewing troubles in every nook and cranny of our land to blackmail us and this one is just another ploy to sabotage the hard earned peace process.
Col. Levi Zimik,
PRO/IPR
General Headquarters, Naga Army
