Newmai News Network Senapati | April 6 The decision of the Biren Singh government to raise Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) battalions along the national highways in 'Naga areas' has attracted a strong reaction from Naga students today. The All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) termed it as attempts of the Manipur Government to "militarize the Naga and tribal areas and to create avenues for state terrorism". ANSAM in its 'Presidential Council Meeting' in Senapati, after thorough discussion, "decided that the decision of the Manipur State Government to deploy Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at various places along national highways would be objected to in the strongest term". On April 1, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh had said the Centre had given a green signal to raise four India Reserve Battalion (IRB) battalions for highway protection force to be deployed on the two vital routes of Manipur to ensure free passage of vehicles. Following this decision, the ANSAM in its statement said that, in its meeting today it "reviewed the position of the Naga people and the tribals on such move by the Government of Manipur to militarize the Naga and tribal areas and to create avenues for state terrorism". According to ANSAM, in 2009, a total bandh of 48 hours with effect from 5 am of July 20 was called by the United Naga Council (UNC) in all Naga areas to protest against the Government of Manipur decision to deploy Police commandos and IRBs in the hill districts. "This protest bandh was enforced only after submission of memorandum to the Governor of Manipur failed to elicit any positive action from the Government of Manipur and also after duly issuing a joint public statement by the UNC, Naga Women Union (NWU), Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and the ANSAM to register the protest and objection," the ANSAM statement pointed out. Further, according to the ANSAM, under the aegis of the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), massive protest rallies were held simultaneously in the 5 hill district headquarters on August 12, 2009 to protest against the state Cabinet decision to extend “state terrorism” to the tribal areas by deploying the infamous Police Commandos and IRBS. "The objections and protests of the tribals on this matter have been consistent and persistent," it added. "The law and order situation and security concerns in the hills depend on the goodwill and cooperation of the tribal people and not on the deployment of IRBs and Police Commandos who have earned notoriety for their predisposition to killings, violence, abusive behaviors and other criminal acts. Many of our youth and student protestors have died at their hands," the ANSAM statement added. The Naga students' body then said that the decision of the UNC to lift the 139 days of economic blockade "was not in deference to use of force or threat thereof". It was the admission of the Government of Manipur that there was non-adherence to the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the Government of Manipur and Naga organizations and also disregard for the assurance given by the Government of India with regard to creation of new districts and that the grievances of the Naga people would be redressed. "The deployment of IRBs, as decided by the State Cabinet would be going against the very spirit with which a process of dialogue and consultation has been put in place after the March 19, 2017 tripartite talk of the Government of Manipur , Government of India and UNC," it stated. . The ANSAM therefore asserted that IRBs and Police commandos must not be deployed in the hills and "the state Cabinet must review its decision in the matter".
