Naga bodies condemn attack, seek immediate State intervention
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 24: Even as gunfight continued for the second day at Litan in Ukhrul and hurt civilians, several organisations including the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long and the Central Working Committee, Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation and Kamjong Students' Union have vehemently condemned the armed aggression by Kuki militants.
The Government must immediately intervene and take decisive actions against militants involved in the attacks, the organisations have said in separate statements.
Since yesterday, Kuki militants have fired upon civilians from three locations-one along the Chassad-Kamjong axis and two other positions at Shangkai and Mongkot Chepu, they added.
While the attack continued today, hurting two civilians, Sikibung/Sharkhapung village was surrounded from all sides and subjected to indiscriminate and sustained firing by Kuki militants yesterday, said the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long.
Last night, Kuki militants from Chassad village also fired several rounds of bullets using automatic rifles toward Kamjong district headquarters, forcing 40 Tangkhul Naga families to evacuate to safer locations, said the committee.
The incident, which occurred in the vicinity of the 11 Assam Rifles unit camp and a police station, was an absolute challenge shown to the established State and Central authorities, said the committee.
Even more shocking is the revelation that Assam Rifles have directly warned the civilians at Kamjong headquarters that any form of retaliation towards the Kuki militants by the Tangkhul Naga volunteers would be met with violence from their end. This proves that the AR is hand in gloves with the Kuki militants, alleged the committee.
"The complete inaction and apparent leniency of the Central security forces and Paramilitary Forces stationed in the affected areas and partiality of the Assam Rifles stationed at Kamjong headquarters have further emboldened the perpetrators. Their failure to intervene and protect innocent civilians raises serious concerns about accountability and responsibility," said the committee.
Terming the attacks "coordinated," the committee said the State and Central authorities must take immediate and decisive actions to halt the ongoing attacks and ensure the safety of all civilians.
It added that the State authorities must book all the culprits involved in the attacks and probe the security forces for their alleged complicity with Kuki militants.
Any continued attack on innocent civilians will be viewed as a grave failure and implicit complicity of the security forces deployed in the region, it said.
The Central Working Committee, Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation, in its statement, alleged Kuki militants operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement were involved in the attacks.
It said it had recently submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister, urging the Government to upgrade the Litan police station and deploy two platoons of security forces at Sinakeithei village, and one platoon each of MR/IRB personnel at Hongmahn, Mapao Zingsho, and Zingtun.
However, only one platoon has been deployed at Sinakeithei village, and no further action has been taken to address the remaining demands, it said.
"This inadequate response has left several vulnerable areas exposed and continues to put the lives of innocent civilians at significant risk," it said, urging the Government to deploy adequate State security forces in Thoyee and Sharkaphung villages to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and restore normalcy in the affected areas.
The Kamjong Students' Union (KSU), meanwhile, said the Government must identify and book the individuals involved in the firing last night at Kamjong DHQs.
Failure to book the culprits and produce them before the appropriate authority within 24 hours will compel the Kamjong Students' Union to take strict measures, including imposition of a complete ban on all Kuki movements within the Kamjong headquarters area, it said.
"Such actions, while undesirable, will be deemed necessary to ensure the safety and security of the public," it added.
IMPHAL, Mar 24: Even as gunfight continued for the second day at Litan in Ukhrul and hurt civilians, several organisations including the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long and the Central Working Committee, Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation and Kamjong Students' Union have vehemently condemned the armed aggression by Kuki militants.
The Government must immediately intervene and take decisive actions against militants involved in the attacks, the organisations have said in separate statements.
Since yesterday, Kuki militants have fired upon civilians from three locations-one along the Chassad-Kamjong axis and two other positions at Shangkai and Mongkot Chepu, they added.
While the attack continued today, hurting two civilians, Sikibung/Sharkhapung village was surrounded from all sides and subjected to indiscriminate and sustained firing by Kuki militants yesterday, said the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long.
Last night, Kuki militants from Chassad village also fired several rounds of bullets using automatic rifles toward Kamjong district headquarters, forcing 40 Tangkhul Naga families to evacuate to safer locations, said the committee.
The incident, which occurred in the vicinity of the 11 Assam Rifles unit camp and a police station, was an absolute challenge shown to the established State and Central authorities, said the committee.
Even more shocking is the revelation that Assam Rifles have directly warned the civilians at Kamjong headquarters that any form of retaliation towards the Kuki militants by the Tangkhul Naga volunteers would be met with violence from their end. This proves that the AR is hand in gloves with the Kuki militants, alleged the committee.
"The complete inaction and apparent leniency of the Central security forces and Paramilitary Forces stationed in the affected areas and partiality of the Assam Rifles stationed at Kamjong headquarters have further emboldened the perpetrators. Their failure to intervene and protect innocent civilians raises serious concerns about accountability and responsibility," said the committee.
Terming the attacks "coordinated," the committee said the State and Central authorities must take immediate and decisive actions to halt the ongoing attacks and ensure the safety of all civilians.
It added that the State authorities must book all the culprits involved in the attacks and probe the security forces for their alleged complicity with Kuki militants.
Any continued attack on innocent civilians will be viewed as a grave failure and implicit complicity of the security forces deployed in the region, it said.
The Central Working Committee, Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation, in its statement, alleged Kuki militants operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement were involved in the attacks.
It said it had recently submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister, urging the Government to upgrade the Litan police station and deploy two platoons of security forces at Sinakeithei village, and one platoon each of MR/IRB personnel at Hongmahn, Mapao Zingsho, and Zingtun.
However, only one platoon has been deployed at Sinakeithei village, and no further action has been taken to address the remaining demands, it said.
"This inadequate response has left several vulnerable areas exposed and continues to put the lives of innocent civilians at significant risk," it said, urging the Government to deploy adequate State security forces in Thoyee and Sharkaphung villages to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and restore normalcy in the affected areas.
The Kamjong Students' Union (KSU), meanwhile, said the Government must identify and book the individuals involved in the firing last night at Kamjong DHQs.
Failure to book the culprits and produce them before the appropriate authority within 24 hours will compel the Kamjong Students' Union to take strict measures, including imposition of a complete ban on all Kuki movements within the Kamjong headquarters area, it said.
"Such actions, while undesirable, will be deemed necessary to ensure the safety and security of the public," it added.