DIMAPUR, AUGUST 21 (MExN): Survival Nagaland (SN) today informed that one of its members was “assaulted brutally a few days back at Chungtiayimsen under Mokokchung district.”
A press note from the SN alleged that the member was assaulted for “reporting ILP defaulters to the administration.”
SN informed that according to the victim, he was stopped at Tsütapela check gate by some miscreants and “taken to an unknown area with his eyes blind folded and his hands tied behind and was assaulted verbally and physically.”
SN stated that it had received information that there are “illegal entry of non Nagas into ILP enforced zone for which SN conducted proper investigation and had instructed its members on August 18 to report the matter to the concerned area administration about those ILP defaulters living as bricks kiln and coal mining labourers.”
It alleged that the assault on one of its members was a “retaliation of the local people who are patronizing the non Nagas at their behest violating the laid down rule of ILP Act.”
It further informed that the SN member was forced to sign a bond of agreement “amounting to nine lakhs twenty thousand as compensation if the fled ILP defaulters failed to return to their work place sooner than expected.” The SN cautioned that it will be taking up the issue and “will not rest till the culprit is punished.”
SN added that “the act of its member/members cannot be individualized since he was just following the directive of SN head office. Therefore targeting any individual of SN by any individual or group will not be tolerated. SN will take the matter seriously.”
It reminded that the constitution of India has enacted ILP Act in Nagaland under BEFRA 1873. Apart from Dimapur, all the existing districts of Nagaland falls under ILP restricted zone, it added.
“But the lukewarm response of the State Government in strictly implementing it as well as our own Naga people ignorant of such important Act has created a large scale mess which will be hard to control if left unattended,” the SN cautioned.
Meanwhile, it also appreciated the swift action initiated immediately by ADC Mangkolemba in addressing the ILP issue on the reported day itself. It further cautioned that “if any untoward incident or inflicting harm to its member’s by any means, the accused members will be held responsible and further SN will be forced to take the matter to the highest level till justice is delivered and the accused are arrested and punished.”
