NPMHR condemns “impressment” of civil vehicles
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 28 (MExN): The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has expressed resentment of the “seemingly insignificant” and “lackadaisical” notification from the Dimapur District Commissioner (DC), also the District Magistrate, asking the public to “bear with inconveniences” while the Army 3 corps Rangapahar Military station conducts “impressments” of civil vehicles on September 29 and 30 at Dillai Gate (Diphu Road), New Field Check Gate (Golaghat Road) and Assam Rifles Training Centre (ARTC).
The DC, in the four line notification, does not explain “impressment”. It means “all entry and exit roads to and from Dimapur city will be cordoned and every civil vehicle (all non-military vehicles which means Government vehicles as well) will be stopped, drivers and occupants will be interrogated and the army will requisition any vehicle of their choice,” explains NPMHR’s press note from its Secretariat. It is a method of acquiring civil vehicles during wartime when the army faces a shortage of the same. The NPMHR has condemned this act and asked the Government of India to explain “to its citizens the motive and intent behind carrying out this exercise which will not only throw the normal life of its citizens into jeopardy in the next two days but will instil fear and abominations in the days to come”.
The Movement “resents” how the DC has notified this through a lightning circular without providing citizens with enough time to prepare. “Peace must not be controlled by guns nor must the military in the guise of security be allowed to run roughshod over civilian codes and normal conduct of life.”
Even though a mock drill of “requisition of civilian vehicles” similar to, say, a fire drill, the NPMHR questions why a “full scale war” exercise needs to be carried out at a time when peace (in the form of reconciliation) is “echoing from hills to the valleys in all the Naga areas barring sporadic incidences”. Importantly, it asks, “why the signs of war at a time when peace is being negotiated?”
According to the SP of Dimapur, the drill is conducted in all “disturbed areas” of the country by the army annually.
The Indo-Naga Peace talks, on for the past 15 years, is being observed by the international community. The Naga Reconciliation process has brought peace and doused bewilderment among many observers, including the Indian civil society and democratic movements. At a delicate time like this, the NPMHR has made it clear that “in the event of any untoward incidents taking place during this exercise, the state administration and its law-enforcing agencies will be held accountable for undertaking such an alarming exercise with a lackadaisical attitude”.
