13 villages along NH-29 to shut down businesses on June 11; calls for ceasefire rule reform

• DIMAPUR — The National Highway Village Councils Forum (NHVCF), an umbrella body comprising 13 villages along the four-lane stretch of National Highway 29, has announced a six-hour shutter down of all business establishments on Tuesday, from 6:00 am to 12 noon.

• Sebastian Zumvu and other NHVCF members addressing the press conference on Tuesday. (EM Images)

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• The protest will be observed across the following locations: Sovima, Unity Village, Thilixu, Chekiye, Ikishe, 5th Mile Model Village, 7th Mile Model Village, Tenyiphe I, Kirha, Sodzulhu, Kozabe, Diphupar, and Diphupar B.
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• The forum stated that the protest is being organised to express public outrage over the failure to apprehend perpetrators involved in the armed attack at Unity Village on May 23 and to highlight the alleged misuse of ceasefire monitoring offices by underground groups.

Related: NH-29 villages to observe 6 hour ‘shutters down’ on June 11

• Announcing the decision at a press conference held at Sovima Village Council Hall on Tuesday, NHVCF convenor Sebastian Zumvu stated that black flags would be displayed in front of all shops and commercial establishments during the protest.
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• He said the protest reflects the “unhappiness, anguish, and disappointment” of the public with the continuing harassment by armed factions and the perceived inaction of the Government of India. He emphasised that although the NHVCF consists of 13 villages, the issues being raised affect all Nagas across the state and are not isolated or local in nature.

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• Although ceasefire agreements have ended overt hostilities among underground groups, Zumvu claimed that the ground reality continues to burden civilians. He pointed to rampant illegal taxation, saying traders are forced to pay substantial amounts at multiple checkpoints, ultimately passing the financial burden on to consumers.
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• He further alleged that many issues interpreted as law and order violations by the public are treated by armed groups as political matters, thereby obstructing police intervention. “The state has efficient police officers, but their hands are tied as they are not permitted to enter ceasefire monitoring offices, despite knowing that criminals are taking refuge inside,” Zumvu said.
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• He added that although ceasefire agreements were originally signed with the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), the agreements are still being extended to other groups, despite the growing number of factions in Nagaland.

• Zumvu questioned the central government’s policy on such groups, stating, “If they have not signed any ceasefire agreements with the government of India, then these factions should be treated as armed gangsters.” He urged underground cadres to cease targeting civilians if they claim to represent the Naga cause, warning that communities will not hesitate to take action under customary laws, including expulsion and ostracism.

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• He concluded that the public does not wish to pass unresolved political issues to the next generation. “We want to see a solution in our lifetime, and we want our children to grow up in a society free from fear,” he said.
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• Amend ceasefire ground rules
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• As part of its campaign on Tuesday, the NHVCF will submit a memorandum to AK Mishra, the Government of India’s Interlocutor for the Naga peace talks.
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• The document outlines several demands including immediate action on the May 23 incident where approximately 30 armed cadres of the NSCN (Khango) group entered Unity village and allegedly attempted to assassinate a rival faction member, firing indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.
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• The forum stated that while several individuals were identified through CCTV footage and named in a police FIR, the accused allegedly took refuge in a designated ceasefire monitoring office, which security forces were not permitted to enter due to existing ground rules.
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• Demanding their immediate arrest and prosecution under the law, regardless of political affiliation, the forum also called for full implementation of the existing ceasefire guidelines to prevent cadres from moving about in uniform and armed, or engaging in extortion, illegal taxation, or kidnapping.
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• Claiming that these offices have turned into “safe havens” for criminals, the forum called for their closure and the confinement of all faction members to designated camps.
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• The NHVCF further demanded that security personnel be granted authority to enter any premises, including designated camps and offices, if it is confirmed that wanted individuals are taking shelter there. To this end, the forum called for amendments to the ceasefire ground rules.
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• Referring to former interlocutor RN Ravi’s statement in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly that peace talks had concluded on October 31, 2019, the NHVCF urged the government of India to bring the process to a logical and timely conclusion. “The people of Nagaland deserve to live normal lives like their fellow citizens in the rest of the country,” the memorandum stated.