UKHRUL: The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has condemned the raid carried out on March 9 at Samziuram Baptist Church in Peren, Nagaland, including the intrusion into the residence of the Pastor by the 9th Assam Rifles .
“Conducting such an operation in the dead of night at a sacred place has seriously undermined the dignity of the church and the community,” GNF said in a statement, while adding that the “unwarranted intrusion” has caused fear and distress among the Pastor, church leaders, and their families, while further eroding public trust between the Naga people and the security forces operating in Naga areas.
It also expressed concern over the emergence of a “No Objection /Claim/Harassment Certificate” reportedly signed by the Samziuram Church Pastor and the Village Council Chairman stating that no harassment took place.
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“If there is no sinister design behind the operation, the issuance of such a ready-made document raises serious questions. It is widely known that during search operations security forces often obtain “No Objection” signatures under difficult circumstances. The existence of such a certificate itself suggests that a search operation may have been carried out within the church premises, raising grave concerns about respect for the sanctity of a place of worship,” it stated.
GNF stated that the incident raised serious concerns regarding the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, as well as the freedom of religion recognized under internationally accepted human rights principles.
It also stated that incidents such as the intrusion into Samziuram Baptist Church stand in stark contradiction to that claim by the Assam Rifles, who project themselves as the “Friends of the Hill People.”
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“The events at Samziuram cannot be dismissed as a mere operational lapse or the result of “misinformation.” Reducing the violation of a sacred space and the intimidation of civilians to a matter of incorrect information only diminishes the gravity of the issue,” it stated.
Condemning the incident in the strongest terms, the Global Naga Forum reiterated that the sanctity of religious institutions and the dignity of the people are non-negotiable.
It further added that the forum will place the case, along with other documented incidents affecting the rights of the Naga people, before the appropriate constitutional and international human rights mechanisms for scrutiny and accountability.