Dimapur, August 14 (MExN): Tangkhul civil society today demanded to know of the Prime Minister of India whether the ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) has purview outside Nagaland state. A memorandum was today addressed to the Prime Minister from the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Women’s League, Tangkhul Students’ Union, Tangkhul Youth Council, Tangkhul Naga Village Chiefs’ Association and the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights.
The memorandum follows the reported ambush on August 12 by the Assam Rifles, under 10 Sector, on a group of NSCN (IM) cadres in Ukhrul district of Manipur. A number of NSCN (IM) cadres were reported killed, including a cadre the Tangkhul organizations allege was tortured and killed by the Assam Rifles after being arrested near the site of the incident.
“We would like to question whether there is a cease-fire between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) in the Naga areas outside Nagaland or not?” queried the memorandum. The Prime Minister is asked to clarify “once and for all whether there is a cease-fire in Naga areas outside Nagaland.”
The organizations also made a number of demands. They want current operations being carried out in the area to be stopped, immediate withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from Ukhrul District and to ensure and guarantee the safety and well being of the area’s population.
It was alleged that “random bombings” are being carried out by the Assam Rifles in civilian areas particularly in and around Kota, Shakok, Loushing, and Loushing Khunthak villages under Phungyar Police Station in Ukhrul district. Likewise, the Tangkhul organizations alleged that the Assam Rifles are in collusion with “anti-social and criminal elements in carrying out their operations.”
“The incident has put a huge number of populations in the area at risk and has violated their fundamental right to personal and emotional security. We draw your kind attention to the large number of villagers who are in their paddy fields, in hunting grounds, etc, being their hearth and home as forest people, who are unable to return to their villages as a result of the present incident,” the memorandum stated. “We would like to state that there are still many individuals, who were carrying out their normal course of daily activities, whose whereabouts are still not known,” the organizations stated.
The Tangkhul organizations took note that all the stated developments are an effort to destabilize and “butcher the hard-earned peace and stability” in the region. Such incidents, instead of resolving problems further exacerbate, promote, and feed violence, they said. “These practices are manifestations of an unhealthy trend towards violence and confrontation,” the organizations said.
Over the Assam Rifles, the Tangkhul organizations expressed disappointment of the “callous attitude” of the Assam Rifles in their treatment of the public “in Ukhrul district.”
“We would like to point out that despite many attempts on our part, the Assam Rifles prevented civil society organizations and the media from visiting the area affected by the conflict. We would like to point out that the safety and well-being of our fellow brothers and sisters is a priority for us as leaders of our society. Till date, we have been making persistent attempts to access the area which the Assam Rifles have prevented us,” the memorandum added.
