Dimapur, April 25 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has accused the Indian Army (Assam Rifles) and the Manipur police of going all out against the NSCN in Manipur “on the pretext that there is no Indo-Naga ceasefire in Naga areas of Manipur State” and there is no NSCN designated camp in Ukhrul district.
The allegation comes in the backdrop of the ongoing standoff at Kashung-Bungdung, under Kasom Khullen Block, Ukhrul district.
Terming the standoff as “unwarranted provocation” when every single person is engaged in maintaining social distancing protocol in the midst of lockdown,” the NSCN (IM) said it is a “thoughtless and deliberate violation of the infectious COVID-19 protocol.”
Such action has put the villagers at “risk of exposing them to the possibility of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers,” it said.
There is indication that the “bellicose” stand by the Manipur Government came from an order from Home ministry for the formation of a “Unified Command of Manipur State Police and security forces,” it alleged in a statement issued by its MIP.
On the issue of designated camp in Ukhrul, the NSCN (IM) reminded that the then Chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Lt. Gen. R V Kulkarni (Retd.) in his letter (dated 06.02.2007) to Naveen Verma, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI approved Khangkhui-Shirui forest area as NSCN designated camp.
The present Phungtha Brigade camp, it said, is the “alternative arrangement after Naga Army vacated Khangkhui-Shirui forest area.”
In this context, the NSCN (IM) urged the Centre to rein the Manipur Government from going against what has been officially sanctioned. “The 24 AR personnel who are in the thick of the storm in the present standoff with the women folks of the area should also learn to draw the line and not go overboard to bring about acrimonious situation,” it said.
Stating that it is baffled at the inconsistency on the part of the Government of India in managing the Indo-Naga political peace process, the NSCN (IM) questioned the seriousness of the GoI in finalizing the political negotiation when the Government machineries are behaving in total contravention of the spirit of peace talks.
