Dimapur, March 18 (EMN): A number of community organisations have expressed resentment at the military authorities for what is being reported to be a raid by security forces on the residence of a prominent citizen and former leader of the Naga Council of Dimapur Savi Legise. A number of organisations issued separate press releases on Sunday criticising the army and demanding accountability.
A statement on behalf of the GBs of Kuda village in Dimapur has strongly condemned the raid stated to have been carried out by the 32nd Assam Rifles on the residence of Liegise, a social worker former president of the Naga Council and presently an advisor to the Kuda Village Council.
“Mr. Savi Liegise, a bona fide resident of Kuda village and a son of one of the earliest settlers of the village is an upright, law abiding and peace loving citizen of the village,” the note from the village’s head GB Thepfükuo Nagi stated.
“The raid carried out in the wee hours of 15th March, 2018 traumatising his wife, sisters and two minor daughters is a tactic adopted by the armed forces to harass Mr. Savi Liegise for his upright behaviour and has caused irreparable damage to the mentality of the two young daughters. Whatever justification the Security Forces may give for such condemnable and shocking action of the 32nd Assam Rifles, the dastardly action shows the true colour of the Indian armed forces, i.e., to intimidate any citizen who speaks the truth under the guise of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958.”
The GBs of Kuda village have appealed to all peace loving citizens of Nagaland to ‘raise their voices in a concerted effort for the revocation of the AFSPA 1958 so that Nagas too may live a dignified live as citizen of a democratic country having freedom of speech and expression as a fundamental right.’
Likewise, Kohima’s Khonoma Rüffüno denounced the “menacing pre-dawn raid the Assam Riffles inflicted for the second time” on the private residence of Savi Liegise in Dimapur. A press release from the organisation stated that the first raid took place in 2015.
“Is the AR too thoughtless and irresponsible to know the harm its insufficient vetting of its intelligence sources can do? Has a motivated informer learned to use the AR?” the community organisation stated.
“The harassment meted out to our respected public leader was blatant and deliberate. We totally condemn the highly questionable and reckless action. The intention to insult and intimidate him and malign the fair name of his family as well is unmistakable. No other conclusion is possible given the well-known nature and record of Savi Liegise’s commendable public service.”
The organisation stated further that the ‘traumatic shock’ suffered by the impressionable young children is ‘deplorably cruel and unforgivable.’
“They saw 30 or so jawans barging into their home in the very early hours of the morning and being ordered by their officer to ransack through every room including bathrooms and kitchen. Uniformed female cops frisked them, their mother and their aunts.”
Was the officer in charge so devoid of common sense to know ‘women do not go to bed armed with lethal weapons,’ the statement wondered.
“No weapons were found, the reported reason for the raid. The raid resulted in two silver rings missing from a bathroom. The totally uncalled for repeated raid has revealed the true color of the so called ‘Friends of the Hill People’ and their lack of knowledge about the people in their assigned areas of duty. The policy mandarins in Delhi will do well to know what they are doing,” the Khonoma Rüffüno stated.
