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Dimapur, Oct. 19 (EMN): Reacting to the NSCN (IM)’s allegation against the Indian security forces, the Assam Rifles on Monday stated that the group has ‘falsely accused security forces of brutality and high-handedness towards the Naga people and that ceasefire monitoring group should look into the matter with all seriousness to halt the arrest and raiding spree of the AR’.
“The statement that action against NSCN (IM) is towards Naga people cannot be farther from the truth. Security forces have never apprehended any innocent civilians and have only acted against cadres of insurgent groups, indulging in activities in contravention of Ceasefire ground rules,” a press statement issued by PRO (Defence) Lieutenant Colonel Sumit K Sharma stated.
The Assam Rifles clarified that the October 9 operation was carried out with the police, based on complaints from public regarding presence of armed military wing cadres of NSCN (IM) in Signal Angami area in Dimapur in violation of the ceasefire ground rules. Therefore, it said ‘the team in the interest of public safety verified the inputs and completed the operation and obtained no objection certificate'.
“In the incident of 12 Oct. 2020 in Maram, Senapati District, Manipur, the local battalion prevented a group of nine NSCN (IM) cadres who were carrying forceful illegal taxation from the transporters near Don Bosco School, however, SS 2nd Lt Kennedy attempted to hit one of AR soldiers who was performing his duties under sovereign protection of AFSPA 1958 and jumped into the bushes, thereby preventing security forces from carrying out their bonafide military duties within statutory powers. Despite the same, the troops exercised maximum restraint and prevented the situation from escalating by apprehending the individual and handing over to Senapati Police Station. The local CSOs even gave an undertaking that the NSCN (IM) cadre was in a medically fit state and the cadre himself too promised the Security Forces that such illegal taxation would not be carried out in future,” it stated.
With regard to the October 14 incident at 17th Mile, Jairampur, Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh, it clarified that ‘military wing cadres of the NSCN (IM) were prevented from carrying out forceful illegal taxation, which was prevented by the Security Forces by conduct of their bonafide duty’.