DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 28 (MExN): More organizations have come forward condemning the October 23 firing incident in Wokha where one GPRN/NSCN cadre was killed and the alleged occupation of the Mekokla Baptist Church by the 28 Assam Rifles.
The Nagaland State Unit of the BJP condemned the alleged occupation and asked the higher authority to look into this matter with seriousness “as the sanctity of a worship place of any religion, be it a Temple, a Mosque or a Church needs to be respected by all.” “Moreover, the action of the 28 Assam Rifles under whose command it strayed cannot afford to tarnish the good image of armed forces in general,” it added.
The party in a press note appealed to the armed forces to maintain utmost restraint while performing their duties and also appealed to all Naga political groups to adhere to the cease fire ground rules in the interest of the public. All India Congress Committee (AICC) member, KV Pusa meanwhile said that such acts would create communal tension and create more fear among the public. He said India being a secular state, all religions should be treated equally. The congress leader also asked security forces and the Naga political groups to show restraint so as not to derail the ongoing peace process.
He reminded that people want peace and early solution, adding that when efforts are being made to take the peace process forward, all should maintain maximum restrain from action which would create abnormal situation. He asked all parties to work towards confidence building measures so as to give tempo to the peace process.
The AICC Member also asked the centre to be sincere to the ongoing peace process rather than delivering only a lip service. The former PCC President also asked the centre to revoke the Disturb Areas Act (DAA) from the state as there is a peace process.
The Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) termed the October 23 firing as “violation of Ceasefire Agreement.” It further urged the Government of India to revoke the Armed Forces Special Power Acts (AFSPA).
In a press note, the CNSA viewed that “if the Indian Army time and again plays their hypocritical attitude to maintain their military muscle in the name of AFSPA and Ceasefire Agreement as tools for maintaining security in the region, then it is high time for the NPGs to retrospect and introspect ...”
It also stated that the alleged occupation of the Mekokla Baptist Church has “deeply hurt the religious sentiment of the Naga people.” The CNSA asked the state government to take the matter seriously with the Indian Army and the Ceasefire Monitoring Board to ensure that such actions do not occur in the future.
The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) meanwhile termed the incident as “extremely unfortunate and regrettable.” It asked both the security forces and cadres of the Naga political groups to maintain peace. “Such needless assault by the security forces must be avoided at all cost and adhere to the norms of ground rules and realities in future,” it added.
A press note from the ENPO said it was appalled by the alleged occupation of the church and termed this action as “unconstitutional.” “It is an assault on the democratic and secular fabric of the country, and those responsible must be made answerable before the law,” it added.
It further condemned the assassination attempt on the life of a senior FGN functionary and stated that intolerance and violence will only lead the Naga family in the further chaos, misunderstanding and crises. All forms of violence and especially political violence must be honestly and prayerfully uprooted, it urged.
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