Battles were fought and wars waged for just or unjust cause since the dawn of civilization. The standard of warfare has ever been changing, armaments always upgrading. Nevertheless, honors and medals are always earned and won in the battlefields by feats of valor. As the saying goes, “a worthy warrior earns respect even from the adversary”. Nowhere in history, has it been considered honorable to stab the enemy from the back during armistice. But in India, this is bravery!! The detestable nature of the Assam Rifles once again resurfaces in Ukhrul; no wonder a crow remains a crow.
Questioning the validity of ceasefire in Manipur, the issue being fermented by Ibobi Govt. and propelled by the Assam Rifles is not a new subject. But we don’t take it a serious issue of contention because every sane human would agree that ceasefire is primarily meant for reducing hostilities so as to enable the process of peace building to progress. Only cynics love to engage in debate than be a part of the solution. The ceasefire agreement however, does not imply that Naga Army ceases to exist. Because, with or without ceasefire, we have our own duty and we know that our primary duty is to defend our land from aggression and secure our people from all forms of oppression, domestic or foreign.
Lately, Ukhrul has been infested with sectarian groups of mercenaries. These syndicates of gangsters have been created and groomed by the valley based militants of Manipur. Over the years, arms and drugs smuggling have been going on unchecked from Myanmar, through the porous routes in the south eastern part of Ukhrul. Therefore, to take stock of the situation, a company under the command of Major Reisang from the Kiusumong Battalion was dispatched. Unfortunately as it happened, they were waylaid and fired upon unwarned by the 23 Assam Rifles. Our cadres managed to escape, some of them sustaining injuries.
However, they were chased after by the AR, using sniffer dogs. Two of our injured cadres were captured by them and brutally murdered. And they call it a fierce encounter. For days, they continue shelling the surrounding area and cut off all means of transport and communication among the locals. No one was allowed to enter the area. This is the morale of Indian Army. Today, our beloved comrades Sgt. Maj. Salmon and Corporal Phanitphang laid down their lives in noble service of the nation. To us, they are martyrs for the truth we have in Nagalim; to the Naga people, they are the latest victims of the heinous sports of killings perpetrated by the Indians; in the eye of the human rights conscious international community, their dead reveal a gruesome murder committed by the self proclaimed friends of the hills people; but to the Assam Rifles, it is a show of their ‘professionalism’.
Col. Levi Zimik
PRO Naga Army
