Dimapur, May 11 (MExN): The Nagaland Police administration today issued clarifications over the statement of the Nagaland Congress that state government agencies manipulated deployment of security personnel for the May 7 Aonglenden assembly elections. A press release from the state police headquarters appended by PRO IGP (HQ) ST Sangtam denied the allegations as “not justified.”
The Police said that the ministry of Home Affairs initially decided to deploy 15 companies of the Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF) for the polls on April 21. However no “prior consultation was made with the state government,” the PRO stated. Therefore only 10 companies of the CRPF were “requisitioned for law and order duty” for the polls. 10 companies of CRPF were “earmarked” instead of 15 companies as ordered earlier and 5 more from Manipur and another five in the state.
Five companies would not be withdrawn but kept on stand-by as the state already had four companies of the Indian reserve police in Mokokchung, the police said.
“The five Coys which had arrived from Manipur were deployed with one Coy each at Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Wokha and Tuensang and directed the Sr. superintendents of police of the districts to deploy them for law and order duty to prevent movement of antisocial elements which might infiltrate into Mokokchung to disturb the peaceful conduct of by-elections at 26 Aonglenden A/c,” the statement said. This is a “tactical deployment,” the Police HQ claimed.
According to the police, the companies were deployed in the neighboring districts of Mokokchung “as there were possibilities of antisocial elements moving into Mokokchung district”. One company was deployed in Peren “for Intangki problem.” By the order of the Home department on April 29 all four companies were to report to the SP of Mokokchung on April 30, the Police said. Three more companies of the CRPF deployed in Nagaland kept “as standby” were also sent to Mokokchung on May 5, the police said.
Further, the SP of Mokokchung detailed two sections of the CRPF, six from the Mahila battalion and two from the civil police, DEF of Mokokchung to al polling stations, the statement said. No IR personnel have were detailed for polling station security duty, the PHQ stated. All IR personnel were detailed as “Striking Reserve” and peripheral coverage and no “male IR boys” were deployed for “polling booth security duty” the PHQ, said.
Terming the allegations as “not justified” the PHQ said that the department’s “deployment chart” may be seen.
The Police said that the ministry of Home Affairs initially decided to deploy 15 companies of the Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF) for the polls on April 21. However no “prior consultation was made with the state government,” the PRO stated. Therefore only 10 companies of the CRPF were “requisitioned for law and order duty” for the polls. 10 companies of CRPF were “earmarked” instead of 15 companies as ordered earlier and 5 more from Manipur and another five in the state.
Five companies would not be withdrawn but kept on stand-by as the state already had four companies of the Indian reserve police in Mokokchung, the police said.
“The five Coys which had arrived from Manipur were deployed with one Coy each at Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Wokha and Tuensang and directed the Sr. superintendents of police of the districts to deploy them for law and order duty to prevent movement of antisocial elements which might infiltrate into Mokokchung to disturb the peaceful conduct of by-elections at 26 Aonglenden A/c,” the statement said. This is a “tactical deployment,” the Police HQ claimed.
According to the police, the companies were deployed in the neighboring districts of Mokokchung “as there were possibilities of antisocial elements moving into Mokokchung district”. One company was deployed in Peren “for Intangki problem.” By the order of the Home department on April 29 all four companies were to report to the SP of Mokokchung on April 30, the Police said. Three more companies of the CRPF deployed in Nagaland kept “as standby” were also sent to Mokokchung on May 5, the police said.
Further, the SP of Mokokchung detailed two sections of the CRPF, six from the Mahila battalion and two from the civil police, DEF of Mokokchung to al polling stations, the statement said. No IR personnel have were detailed for polling station security duty, the PHQ stated. All IR personnel were detailed as “Striking Reserve” and peripheral coverage and no “male IR boys” were deployed for “polling booth security duty” the PHQ, said.
Terming the allegations as “not justified” the PHQ said that the department’s “deployment chart” may be seen.
Cong workers kidnapped, assaulted again
Dimapur, May 11 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress has alleged that an NSCN/GPRN cadre has kidnapped two Congress party workers - Jungshilemba, president of ACC and Alemtemshi Longkumer while returning to Kubza from Mokokchung. The president of NPCC SI Jamir in a press statement said that the NSCN/GPRN cadre, earlier had also kidnapped the president of ACC Kubza unit and nine others on the eve of the polling day of 26th Aonglenden by-election. He also added that the duo were “mercilessly assaulted” and were admitted to hospital.
“The faction is having a hay day in the town as if there is no administration at all. Such incident should be taken very seriously by the Administration, Civil Societies, Church organisations and the Government of India. No one should be victimized all because they belong to a political party.
I therefore condemned the heinous crime committed on the innocent citizens and appeal to all concerned to restrain from such activities,” stated SI Jamir.
Our correspondent adds:
Interestingly, it is learnt that the two victims have decided not to lodge an FIR with the police. Though police were seen taking the statement of the victims, they could give information on the names of the victims. They could not say who the culprits were; but a reliable Congress source strongly suspected the hand of the NSCN (IM) cadres.
Congress MLA C Apok Jamir, who was present at the hospital where the two victims were treated, termed the assault as an ‘unfortunate incident’. Without naming anyone, the Congress MLA said that the works of the assaulters does not send ‘a right message to the people at this juncture’. The counting for the May 7 by-election is scheduled to be held at Mokokchung Town Hall on May 13 next.
“The faction is having a hay day in the town as if there is no administration at all. Such incident should be taken very seriously by the Administration, Civil Societies, Church organisations and the Government of India. No one should be victimized all because they belong to a political party.
I therefore condemned the heinous crime committed on the innocent citizens and appeal to all concerned to restrain from such activities,” stated SI Jamir.
Our correspondent adds:
Interestingly, it is learnt that the two victims have decided not to lodge an FIR with the police. Though police were seen taking the statement of the victims, they could give information on the names of the victims. They could not say who the culprits were; but a reliable Congress source strongly suspected the hand of the NSCN (IM) cadres.
Congress MLA C Apok Jamir, who was present at the hospital where the two victims were treated, termed the assault as an ‘unfortunate incident’. Without naming anyone, the Congress MLA said that the works of the assaulters does not send ‘a right message to the people at this juncture’. The counting for the May 7 by-election is scheduled to be held at Mokokchung Town Hall on May 13 next.
NPF says Cong charges ‘exaggerated’
DIMAPUR, MAY 11 (MExN): Responding to the serious allegations leveled by the Opposition Congress on the recently concluded bye-polls for the Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, the NPF Press Bureau has issued a rejoinder stating that the NPCC was wasting “much time and resources… with their exaggerated and unsubstantiated tirades on the recently completed by-elections to the 26th Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, and a lot of avoidable paper wars have taken place”. The NPF press note stated that it was the wish of the NPF to “bury all poll related makeshifts and begin working together, shouldering the responsibility of impartial and effective Governance” and regretted the “NPCC’s unending tirades, blaming the NPF for misuse of power”.
The NPF pointed out that the State Government had left no stone unturned to maintain law and order for a peaceful, transparent, free and fair conduct of the elections. In this regard, sufficient number of the state and the central forces (IRB-CRPF) jointly operated with full cooperation and confidence amongst them as well, it stated. The NPF also clarified that the Presiding and Polling officers have done their duties within the framework of the election commission’s rules and not beyond.
“It is (with) the Government officials’ sincere and austere performance of duty that no untoward incidents took place and the electioneering process completed with people’s satisfaction”, the NPF stated in its response to the allegations of the Congress.
The NPF was of the view that “whichever party candidate wins is not the only important issue”. “However, contrary to the best possible services rendered by all the officials deployed in different disciplines; of late, there has been almost nothing that the NPCC let go without blame, which only speaks of their sheer frustration”.
The NPF press rejoinder has also defended what was described as the “youthful and daring IRB personals, who are recruited from all Naga Tribes with cent percent equal representation; smart and well trained, and deployed in various streams for national and Nagaland state security with a track record of outstanding performance”. It termed as “unfortunate that the NPCC is blaming the state’s own soldiers – the IRB personals, who were performing their duties round the clock with discipline and efficiency”.
“Branding the IRB as working in favor of any particular political party is unfounded/ baseless and only exposes the inner agenda of the NPCC to achieve their hidden targets”, the NPF stated. “The NPCC, being tooth and nail against even the impartial performance of the state’s own soldiers, (IRB) branding them as not trustworthy; is a matter of concern for the Nagaland Government’s own uniformed personals to toil and shine in the eyes of a Congress Government in Nagaland”.
It was also stated that under “careful, impartial and strict vigil of state Govern ment machineries, Central Government officials and troops, no anti social activists could penetrate and create any havoc, to pave way for the NPCC’s interest of forcing their skills in Booth capturing”. In this regard, the NPF Press Bureau has extended appreciation and acknowledged all concerned for their cooperation and positive contributions.
The NPF pointed out that the State Government had left no stone unturned to maintain law and order for a peaceful, transparent, free and fair conduct of the elections. In this regard, sufficient number of the state and the central forces (IRB-CRPF) jointly operated with full cooperation and confidence amongst them as well, it stated. The NPF also clarified that the Presiding and Polling officers have done their duties within the framework of the election commission’s rules and not beyond.
“It is (with) the Government officials’ sincere and austere performance of duty that no untoward incidents took place and the electioneering process completed with people’s satisfaction”, the NPF stated in its response to the allegations of the Congress.
The NPF was of the view that “whichever party candidate wins is not the only important issue”. “However, contrary to the best possible services rendered by all the officials deployed in different disciplines; of late, there has been almost nothing that the NPCC let go without blame, which only speaks of their sheer frustration”.
The NPF press rejoinder has also defended what was described as the “youthful and daring IRB personals, who are recruited from all Naga Tribes with cent percent equal representation; smart and well trained, and deployed in various streams for national and Nagaland state security with a track record of outstanding performance”. It termed as “unfortunate that the NPCC is blaming the state’s own soldiers – the IRB personals, who were performing their duties round the clock with discipline and efficiency”.
“Branding the IRB as working in favor of any particular political party is unfounded/ baseless and only exposes the inner agenda of the NPCC to achieve their hidden targets”, the NPF stated. “The NPCC, being tooth and nail against even the impartial performance of the state’s own soldiers, (IRB) branding them as not trustworthy; is a matter of concern for the Nagaland Government’s own uniformed personals to toil and shine in the eyes of a Congress Government in Nagaland”.
It was also stated that under “careful, impartial and strict vigil of state Govern ment machineries, Central Government officials and troops, no anti social activists could penetrate and create any havoc, to pave way for the NPCC’s interest of forcing their skills in Booth capturing”. In this regard, the NPF Press Bureau has extended appreciation and acknowledged all concerned for their cooperation and positive contributions.
