Innocents’ Blood: Collateral damage from AR-NSCN (K) skirmishes fuel Naga outrage

• Sleeping Nagaland government told to ‘wake up from their comfy chairs’
• CSU demands justice for victims of SF-NSCN conflict

EMN
Dimapur, July 18

The growing outrage of civilized society of Nagaland at the death of innocents, due to skirmishes between security forces and the armed underground group NSCN (K), continues. A students’ organization has raised the eternal Naga question: who to blame for the blood of innocents and whose statements to trust.
Either in ceasefire or real time conflict, the civilian population of the state continues to bear the brunt of violence and bloodshed. This was in the case on July 16 when two children were killed allegedly by Assam Rifles personnel following an operation against the underground group.
The two children who were killed were identified as Tiizali of Phor village and Aso, daughter of a T Yeteli, of Wuzu village. Another woman, Esther Vitsiirho, of Wuzu village was injured.
A month ago in June too, questions about respect for Human Rights amid operations against extremists were raised when five local youths were detained by the anti-insurgency force in Kohima and allegedly assaulted brutally.
The Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) issued a press statement on Saturday, July 18 censuring the bloodshed and straight away telling the as-usual-inactive state government of Nagaland to ‘wake up for their comfortable chairs’. Citizens continue to wait for a state government that has yet to demonstrate at least even one instance–in times of issues of public importance such as violence or corruption–during which it had employed strong political will.
The CSU has also demanded justice for the innocent victims who fell to the conflict between the security forces and the Naga underground group.“The Chakhesang Students’ Union vehemently condemns the 16th July incident whereby, the lives of 2 innocent students Tuzali and Aso were killed without cogitation and as collateral damage of the armed forces,” the statement from the organization stated. The organization termed it shocking that the protectors of the public would go so far as take the lives of children.
“It is shocking and saddening to learn of such loss. The union questions on the security of the public when the so-called security forces can go to the extent of taking lives of little children”, the agitated union stated.
Remembering Kohima
The Chakhesang students recalled the June incident in capital town Kohima this year when Assam Rifles personnel detained several youths and tortured them. Civil organization said to be in possession of photographs and medical records of the assaulted youths had vehemently rubbished the claims of the security force that they were not harmed during detention.
On June 10, during the Assam Rifles’ detention of the five local youths in Kohima town, the students group recalled, the union has gone to meet the Inspector General of Assam Rifles for their release.
“…we were not allowed to meet any of the victims during the interaction with them but were repeatedly assured that they were not physically abused, being treated properly and were found to be innocent,” the Chakhesang students said.
“However, on their release it was found to be otherwise, as we are all aware of the extent of injuries meted out to those victims through the photograph published in the local media. The army has owned up to the fact that it was a case of ‘mistaken identity’ but no action was taken on those guilty army personnel,” the CSU said in lament.
“Keeping that incident in mind, how can we trust the army on their statement “if Assam Rifles are found guilty, law will take its course”? or of blaming the NSCN(K) for the loss of life? It is an insult to the intellect of the Nagas as it seems to be another lie blurted out by them to falsely justify their inhuman actions” (sic).
As for the Nagaland government widely perceived by the public as a feeble mechanism that continues to shy away from public issues, the Chakhesang union had one sentence of censure:
“The union demands justice for the victims and that the state government, who are elected by the people to work for the welfare of the public, to get off their comfortable chairs, wake up and address the issue with more seriousness”.
The press statement was appended by the union’s president Seve R Vadeo, and general secretary Ngapunyi Krocha.
Phor youths rubbish AR’s explanation on killing of children
Village students’ organizations have pointedly rubbished the claims of the Assam Rifles about the killing of two children by the security force. An outraged Phorü Students’ Union issued a statement on Saturday, July 18, calling the claims of the Assam Rifles “detestable lies”.
The union narrated its side of the story: “The Phorü Students Union (PSU) condemns the unprovoked firing upon the innocent villagers gathered at Wuzu village to receive the slain NSCN (K) cadre, a native of Wuzu village. According to witnesses’ report, the people on learning that the convoy of AR-46 led by Major Surinder Singh, an officer who is known to have the goodwill of the public leaders of the area, was transporting the bodies of the slain cadres approached the said officer with a request if the bodies could be handed over to the villagers”.
“Major Surinder Singh, on conveying that the bodies have to be handed over to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner Meluri, the leaders were said to have requested that the bodies be taken in a coffin which was already prepared. As they were discussing, the AR personnel who were in the lead vehicle of the convoy started firing which was followed by indiscriminate firing from the rear”.
“The question of the convoy coming under heavy fire does not arise at all as the village council authorities can ascertain without an iota of doubt that there was no presence of any armed elements in the village,” the students’ union stated and condemned the ‘blatant lies’ of the Assam Rifles that they were fired upon from “three directions”.
The ‘detestable lies’ of the IGAR(N) that the convoy was stopped on “coercion” or “working in connivance” with the NSCN (K) and that the murdered school children were victims of bullets of the NSCN (K) “deserve the highest degree of condemnation,” the union stated.
PSU points out contradiction in AR’s claims
The union state further stated that the conflicting reports from the office of the IGAR ‘reveals their sinister designs’. According to the students, the conflicting reports of the office of IGAR “first claiming that the two students were killed in the cross fire and now alleging that they were killed by NSCN (K) reveals their sinister designs”.
Further, the ‘suggestion’ that the villagers were used as ‘human shields’ are ill-intentioned, the union said. “It reiterated that either the IGAR (N) has been fed with wrong information or that the office is also involved in hatching a murky conspiracy to justify the senseless act of aggression on the innocent villagers. The union also questioned the veracity of the claim of the AR that their officer and one jawan were injured in the aftermath of the exchange of gunfire”.
If at all there was any injury, the union said, the only viable explanation is that “they were victims of the friendly fires”.
According to the Phor youths, the IGAR (North) had rightly said that they had no reason to fire at the villagers yet they did fire indiscriminately claiming the lives of two young students. “The union decry the calculated and deliberate creation of a war like situation in the area by moving in more troops. This has created fear psychosis in the mind of the populace disturbing normalcy,” the statement from the union said.
While appreciating the prompt response from the government in setting up an inquiry committee, the union has demanded that the committee submit their finding “without any biasness at the earliest”.
Usual silence of CM and Home minister irks Phor
The students also lamented the silence of the chief minister and the home minister of Nagaland on the incident and have demanded the intervention of the Home minister to deploy Nagaland police or Indian reserve police personnel in the area.
“An agency or a mechanism to check the excesses of the security force need to be worked out at the earliest. The repeal of AFSPA and DAA from our land is imperative for Nagas to exercise our freedom and rights as guaranteed by the constitution. The union therefore demand the government to work out a holistic approach to repeal the said Acts once and for all,” the statement said.
The PSU has appealed to Naga civil organizations in Nagaland to intervene and ensure justice for the victims. “We plead to all the Nagas to capitalize this unfortunate and the adversity of our loss, to come together in ushering in a new era of peace and security in our land,” the press release added.
The students have expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and have wished speedy recovery to the injured mother.
Phek NPF condemns Phor killing
The Phek division of the Naga People’s Front has mourned the killing of two children Tuzali of Phor village and Aso of Wuzu village. The two students of class-VII from the Pochury community were allegedly gunned down in Phor village by personnel of the 46th Assam Rifles and 12 Paras on July 16 in Phek district.
Allegations about the circumstances that led to the killing continue meanwhile.
While extending support and solidarity with the bereaved families, the NPF division has vehemently condemned the ‘inhumanely and immature act of security forces for killing invaluable lives of students without conceiving any precautionary measures but randomly shooting in the public places.’
The division issued a press release on Saturday through its general secretary, Wepe Mekrisuh. The NPF unit has expressed anguish for the ‘irresponsible actions of the security forces for sowing the seeds of fear psychosis in the minds of the innocent citizens.’ It has also strongly opposed to any warring groups fighting in the public dominated areas stating it is never justifiable in the eyes of present civilised world but rather an act of ‘hatred, insult, cowardice and uncivilized.’
The unit has also appealed to the state inquiry committee ‘to deliver justice without any biasness and also bring out transparency by punishing the erring groups so as to avert such atrocity on innocent Nagas in future’. Nagas could no longer be a silent spectator on such inhuman act and brutal killing of innocent Nagas, the NPF stated.
While supporting the “PWC” to impact a ceasefire between the government of India and the NSCN (K), the division has appealed to the central government to revoke draconian laws such as DAA and the AFSPA in the region.
The unit has conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and wished speedy recovery to the injured person. The NPF unit also urged the state government to compensate the victims’ families.
Pochury youths condemn
The Pochury Youth Association (PYA) has expressed sorrow and anguish over the brutal killing of two students of Pholary government high school, Tüzali (14) of Phor village, and Aso (13) of Wuzu village, and grievously injuring a woman of Wuzu village during the firing on July 16 allegedly by the C’ company of the 46th Assam Rifles. The company was led by one Majoir Surinder Singh, commander of Akhegwo post under Meluri sub division, the group said.
Terming the action of the “so-called Friends of the Hill People” as most detrimental against innocent civilians, the PYA in a release today, strongly condemned the “act of aggression and suppression” by the Assam Rifles. The organization called upon all the right thinking citizens of Nagaland to condemn the “devilish act”.
Meanwhile, the PYA conveyed condolences to the bereaved family of the innocent victims and also offered prayers for speedy recovery of the injured woman. It also prayed that the Almighty bestows peace and solace to all who have been affected by the ruthlessness of the Assam Rifles.
Pochury Hoho
The Pochury Hoho Kohima has expressed resentment and anguish over the 16 July incident at Wuzu village where two minor students were killed and a woman was injured in the ‘indiscriminate firing by 46 Assam Rifles and 12 paracommandos in the heart of the village’.
The organization urged upon the government concerned to immediately set up an independent inquiry of the incident and deliver justice to the families of the victims at the earliest and to do away with such barbaric and inhuman acts in the future.
Meanwhile, the PHK also conveyed condolence to the bereaved families and prayed that the injured woman would recover soon.

Citizens’ Factfile: What is the AFSPA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) was preceded by the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Ordinance 1958. The Ordinance gave the armed forces certain special powers in the ‘disturbed areas’ of Manipur and Assam.

It was replaced by AFSPA on September 11, 1958. Currently, AFSPA is applicable to the seven states of the North-East, i.e. Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

AFSPA empowers the governor of the state, or the central government to declare any part of the state as a ‘disturbed area’, if in its opinion there exists a dangerous situation in the said area which makes it necessary to deploy armed forces in the region.

Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. Nor is the government’s judgment on why an area is found to be disturbed subject to judicial review.