Condemns AR raid carried out at the residence of Kitovi Zhimomi
Zunheboto, September 6 (MExN): The Zunheboto Town GB Association (ZTGBA), Zunheboto Sumi Totimi Hoho (ZSTH) and Zunheboto Town Youth Organization (ZTYO) in a joint meeting held on September 5 at ZSTH treasurer’s residence expressed displeasure at the raid carried out by the 5th Assam Rifles in the residence of Kitovi Zhimomi, Ato Kilonser of GPRN/NSCN at Amiphoto Colony, Zunheboto on September 3 midnight in his absence.
The organisations in a joint press release said that while acknowledging that the draconian act AFSPA was declared in the state for a period of six months with effect from June 30, 2017, “empowering the security forces to conduct operations without any prior notice, this raid on a well known functionary belonging to an NPG which is a signatory of cease fire agreement with Indian Government since 1997 has caused fear psychosis to grip the denizens of the town who has otherwise been peaceful for the past 4-5 years since the declaration of Zunheboto as the ‘Peace Zone’.”
The organisations also condemned the declaration of Nagaland state as ‘disturbed area’ by the Indian government, which has led to the extension of Armed Forces Special Forces Power Act (AFSPA) in the state.
Taking the September 3, 2017 incident as an example, the organisations stated that the declaration of disturbed area is instead causing disturbances in a town that has relatively been peaceful throughout the present decade. “And that unless the act is repelled, the day to day lives of common people is always threatened with the specter of the act,” it stated.
The organisations further appealed to the 5th Assam Rifles, Zunheboto to exercise peaceful means instead of burdening the citizens with wrath of the draconian act, as the town is observing 75th Platinum Jubilee of the town, with celebrations and conferences set to be held in the latter part of the year.
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