The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups criticised DGP Rupin Sharma over his remarks following the January 19 abduction case.
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DIMAPUR — The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG) on Tuesday took exception to remarks made by Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma following the January 19 abduction and assault of Kiyeto Zhimomi, accusing him of undermining the ceasefire and peace process.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the WC-NNPG said it was understandable that the DGP had briefed the media on the incident, but accused him of painting all Naga political groups with the same brush “in a reckless, dismissive, unschooled tone” and ignoring his role as a representative in the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG).
The committee said Sharma’s remarks, including “inciting the Naga public, village headmen and landowners” and urging landowners to withdraw no-objection certificates granted for Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) offices and “tutoring” village headmen and the public on ceasefire matters, revealed his “design and true intention”. Terming it as a “contemptuous offence,” it said the officer failed to address the unresolved Indo-Naga political issue.
Stating that political negotiations had officially concluded, the WC-NNPG said the DGP should have differentiated between a law-and-order problem and the protracted Indo-Naga political problem. It also said that the DGP could “go after discharged or terminated men, petty thieves and crooks with sophisticated tools and monitor them twenty-four hours”, but questioned his silence on “corrupt politicians, corporate thugs, swindlers and embezzlers of public wealth, including in his own department”. It added that such problems were, in many ways, by-products of the unresolved Indo-Naga political issue.
Referring to the ceasefire between the government of India and Naga representatives, the committee said it had political and historical connotations and that mechanisms were evolved to maintain peace and build confidence, eventually leading to formal political negotiations.
Also read: Dimapur abduction case: Three accused surrender before Nagaland Police
The statement said Sharma was either in college or a junior police officer when the ceasefire was signed, and noted that Naga political groups had maintained cordial relations with all his predecessors and past CFMG chairmen, as well as with Naga civil society organisations and apex tribal bodies on law-and-order issues linked to the Indo-Naga problem.
“It is not a time to lecture the Naga public or village headmen on political matters, or babysit Naga political groups on ceasefire matters,” the WC-NNPG said.
The committee also criticised the DGP’s focus on blanket security measures such as CCTV coverage in Dimapur and Kohima, and said he should instead use his remaining tenure to facilitate an acceptable and honourable Indo-Naga political solution.
While stating that cadres of NSCN-K (Khango-Vusshe) who acted in contravention of party discipline during the ceasefire period had been identified and terminated from “national service”, the WC-NNPG said this showed that Naga revolutionary principles and ethics had been upheld and justice served.
It reiterated that as the Naga people awaited an honourable settlement, Sharma should help strengthen the peace process rather than “desecrate it”.
The WC-NNPG also appealed to the Naga public for continued solidarity and support, stating that the Nagas had come a long way and remained committed to an honourable Indo-Naga settlement.