Ao community demands Assam Rifles’ check gates removed

•AR personnel’s ‘rude, brutish’ conduct irks people
•Absence of women personnel uncomfortable to female travelers
•One too many permanent check gates

EMN
Dimapur, January 23

Leading community organizations of the Ao Naga community have demanded removal of what they said was ‘wanton’ checking gates and posts in Mokokchung district set up by the Assam rifles. Several Ao Naga organizations issued a joint press release addressed to the district administration of Mokokchung.
The organizations have no objection that the paramilitary forces conduct mobile checking as required by situation and time. However they are displeased that the check posts are ‘permanent gates by security forces along public highways, as if our state is under a dictatorship.’
Adding to the annoyance seems to be the way the security forces behave that give off negative impressions, the statement explained. Another discomfort for the travelling public, but more so especially for women travelers is that the check posts have no female soldiers there.
The Ao Senden, the Watsü Mungdang (women organization) and the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (students’ organization issued the statement on Saturday, January 23.
“It has been brought to the notice of the Ao Senden, the Watsü Mungdang and Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) about the wanton checking of vehicles by the security forces especially the Assam Rifles at three different locations in the district which is causing untold inconveniences to the travelers on the highway,” the statement began.
They said that there were three permanent Assam Rifles check gates in the district i.e., Sewak (national highway-2), Tuli town (national highway-2) and another at Longtho (recently declared a national highway).
“We have no objection if the paramilitary forces conduct mobile checks as per the situation and time. However, to have permanent gates by security forces along public highways, as if our state is under a dictatorship, is quite questionable,” the organizations explained.
“Many travelers, mostly responsible citizens, have been complaining that it is very demeaning, irritating and tiring to be stopped every time at AR check gates by a jawan with a stick and to be asked in hindi ‘kon hai, kahase” etc and have the details of our vehicles entered in a register. Women travelers are especially at unease as there are no female security personnel at those gates.”
The statement also took cognizance that the installation of oil barrels by the gates has ‘also effectively reduced the 2-lane highways into single lane restricting vehicular movement.’
“It must be pointed out that as per National Highway specifications, even speed breakers are not allowed to be constructed,” the statement stated.
“Under a democratic setup such as ours, there are no provisions for construction and manning of check gates along highways by paramilitary or army. Therefore, such gates are deemed illegal. If any such security check gates are at all required, it should be done by the civil police.”
The organizations also noted black laws such as the AFSPA:
“The excuse that the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act or Disturbed Area Act is still enforced in Nagaland cannot be accepted blindly. It must be noted that international organizations including UN mandated bodies, too have decried the AFSPA and DAA as extra-constitutional which has no place in a democracy and should be repealed. In this present time, Human Rights is one of the most important and burning topics in the world today, more so in a conflict area like Nagaland. Therefore, the excuse of AFSPA or DAA cannot be the excuse for causing inconveniences, or in most cases, even humiliation to travelers.”
Stating their contentions, the three organizations ‘deemed’ the “wanton checking” by the Assam Rifles at different check gates “with their rude and brutish approach towards innocent travelers, as an infringement on personal dignity of the citizens, which needs to be controlled immediately.”
The organization said that the matter had already been brought up during other occasions as well even in the past.
“Therefore, we request your esteemed authority, as the district head, to take up the matter with the appropriate authority and apprise them to take necessary action at the earliest so that this issue might not be blown out of proportion and break the congenial relationships between the paramilitary forces and the general public,” the statement said.
The statement was appended by the top leaderships of the Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang, and the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang.