The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), South Sector, has accused the 27th Assam Rifles of taking up “military action” at Namrei village in Ukhrul district on September 11.
In a press statement on Saturday, the NPMHR-South Sector said it condemned the incident. “Military action” was taken up by the “27th Assam Riffles (AR) led by the CO, Mr. Rippon Bora on the morning of September 11, 2020 at Namrei village, Ukhrul district reportedly to capture 3 cadres of NSCN/GPRN who were seeking shelter at a house in the village,” the NPMHR also said.
The NPMHR-South press statement also said it strongly condemned the alleged use of force by the Assam Rifles against the women folk of Namrei village who had intervened and raised objections against the actions of Assam Rifles personnel. The NPMHR also questioned the motive and sincerity of the Assam Rifles in “forcing the 3 NSCN/GPRN cadres and the headman of Namrei village to sign on blank papers; such tactics explicitly point to illegal intends”.
According to the NPMHR-South, at a time when the whole world is fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic with strict SOPs and guidelines in place to stop community spread, “such military action exposes the vulnerable public to grave danger particularly considering that Assam Rifles personnel are reported as having a high rate of Covid-19 positive cases in Manipur”.
The NPMHR-South then placed “on record that there is currently a ceasefire in place between the Government of India and the NSCN/GPRN, and talks have been ongoing between the two parties since 1997”. The NPMHR further said such actions of the Assam Rifles directly go against the principles of the peace talks, and threaten the progress and understanding achieved over the last 23 years. “The Government of India must remember and respect the spirit of ceasefire agreement between the two entities,” it added.
The NPMHR then reiterated that “military actions” under the pretext of maintaining “law and order” fostered by draconian laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 seriously undermines the sincerity of the Government of India in resolving the Indo-Naga issue.
The NPMHR then demanded that the “agreed ceasefire ground rules should be adhered to on both sides”. It also demanded to “immediately cease such operations that greatly endanger the whole community during this time of pandemic”.
NNN