Non-cooperation to be imposed in Angami areas until demands met
Kohima, November 4 (MExN): Following the raid on the residence of Northern Angami Youth Organisation (NAYO) President Roko Angami by the 1st Assam Rifles (AR) on October 29, the four ranges of the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) have asserted that “the 1st Assam Rifles must issue an unequivocal apology to Roko Angami in particular and the community in general.”
In a joint statement on November 4, the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), Northern Angami Youth Organisation (NAYO), Western Angami Youth Organisation (WAYO) and Chakhroma Youth Organisation (CYO) denounced the incident. “It was a heinous act that dreadfully reminds us of how an honest, law-abiding and community-serving citizen can be treated like a criminal solely on the vague suspicions of ‘the friends of the hill people’,” they stated.
They went on to state that, “Whether it is the questionable ‘intelligence’ of the 1st Assam Rifles or the blatantly repressive provisions of the AFSPA 1958, neither reason justifies this appalling act.”
The SAYO, NAYO, WAYO and CYO made their position clear on the incident and demanded that the 1st Assam Rifles declare the reason(s) for carrying out the raid and confess that no evidence of cognizable offence was found in Roko Angami’s person or property. “And in such a revelation, the 1st Assam Rifles must issue an unequivocal apology to Mr. Roko Angami in particular and the community in general,” they asserted.
They also demanded the1st AR to reveal the source of the ‘questionable intelligence’ which was not only misleading, but also led to the harassment of a leader and law-abiding citizen.
“If it comes to light that there was an informant and that he/she belongs to the Angami community, the concerned individual bears the responsibility of facing what consequence is due to him/her under our traditional laws,” they added.
The four ranges of AYO also informed of their decision to impose non-cooperation with the 1st Assam Rifles in any and all Angami areas until their demands are met.
Stating that it is the moral responsibility of the 1st Assam Rifles to come clean, they cautioned that, “Any unwelcome or untoward incident that arises out of this predicament will solely be the responsibility of the 1st Assam Rifles, should they refuse to do what is morally right, and thus, force us to maintain this position.”
