Phungyar NPF demands unconditional release of Honpam

Dimapur, October 30: Naga People’s Front (NPF) under 43 Phungyar AC has demanded immediate release of Honpam Jajo of Kangkum village, who was arrested by Manipur police commandos, and threatened to undertake intense forms of agitation if the authority fails to release him. Addressing a press conference at its office in Viewland on Sunday evening, general secretary NPF 43-Phungyar AC, Khayao Hungyo, testified that Honpam Jajo is innocent and an active worker of the Naga political party and that the state police have foisted baseless charges on him. Clarifying that Honpam Jajo is a secretary of the NPF 43- Phungyar unit and that he has nothing to do with the NSCN-IM, Hungyo decried the reports in local dailies that Jajo is a cadre of the outfit who was working under the command of one Akhui who is in charge of home (law and order) of the outfit. Hungyo further said Jajo left Ukhrul town for his village Kangkum on October 27 to make arrangements for the coming Christmas celebration as he has been appointed the programme convenor. “We demand immediate and unconditional release of Honpam Jajo,” said Hungyo while warning the party would initiate intense agitation if the demand is not heeded. In the same vein, president NPF Ukhrul district Wungnaoshang A Shimray said the party strongly condemned the arrest of Honpam Jajo and wilful framing of unfounded charges against the party worker. Stating that the media reports about recovering one Chinese made hand grenade from Jajo’s possession were all unfounded, he said that it was nothing but a manoeuvre to frame innocent persons- a skill which the Manipur police commandos are known for. He also raised serious concerns about the current trend of random frisking and arresting of innocent tribals by the brute state police commandos in Imphal valley. Unless the Congress led government immediately rectify the sorry state of affairs, this could have severe ramifications on the hill-valley relationship, cautioned Shimray.