[caption id="attachment_246404" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Assam Rifles troops seen at Sihai Khanou village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. A stand-off between the security personnel and the NSCN (IM) has given rise to tensions in the area.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 29: Escalating tension in the Tangkhul-Naga village of Sihai Khanou in Manipur’s Ukhrul district—a situation described as “already warlike,” by a senior NSCN (IM) functionary on Monday—has the villagers fearing for a violent confrontation between the Naga group and the Assam Rifles troops.
The arrival of “32 paratroopers on two military choppers” at the village on Monday, according to sources, only served to fuel the fear already widespread among the villagers. But the alarm bells are ringing elsewhere too.
A highly reliable source said that members of the Tangkhul community would be travelling to Sihai Khanou “where the Assam Rifles troops are stationed,” to prevent further escalation of tension—in the aftermath of Monday’s “reinforcement” by the AR.
It would be followed by a “mass public rally” at Ukhrul district headquarters “after some few days.” The fear among the Tangkhul community—as well as the Naga community—is that it is always the innocent villagers who bear the brunt of violent confrontations, according to the source.
Till late Monday evening, top NSCN (IM) leaders in Delhi were reported to be in a meeting with senior officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss the turn of events at Sihai Khanou.
Here in Dimapur, the NSCN (IM) ceasefire review committee met at the group’s monitoring cell located at Diphupar.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, the group’s ceasefire monitoring cell convenor, Kraibo Chawang said: “Problem is never from our side. It is always from their side. We are in search of peace.”
He gave the chronological precedence that led to the current situation at Sihai Khanou. The Khangkhui Shiroy forest area designated camp allotted in 2007 by the then CFMG chairman, Gen. Kulkarni was vacated in 2009 at the Indian government’s directive.
“In 2010, mutual understanding was made with Maj. Gen. Gurung in respect of noted camps at Chatric and Grihang. It existed for nearly 10 years. Recently, Chatric camp was also vacated saying there is no authorised designated camp. In the March 1 CFMG official meeting, Col. Joshi of IGAR stated that there is no designated camp in Ukhrul district,” Chawang said.
Those “displaced” NSCN (IM) cadres have nowhere to stay; so, they camped at Sihai Khanou, he said. Chawang’s suggestion was that the government of India was “trying to create a situation on the pretext that there are no designated camps in Ukhrul.”
Ukhrul, he reminded, is the hometown of the NSCN (IM)’s chief negotiator, Th. Muivah.
“One point very clear is that we are not the aggressors. Something is wrong with the government of India,” Chawang said. During Monday’s meeting in Dimapur, the NSCN (IM) decided to put all its designated camps on alert “if something goes wrong,” he informed. “NSCN will have to face any eventuality.”
Another senior functionary of the NSCN (IM) and member of the monitoring cell, S Varah said that the attitude of the Assam Rifles “is not at all supportive of the spirit of peace.”
There are “two to three companies” of NSCN (IM) cadres currently stationed at the Sihai Khanou camp.
Centre accuses NSCN (IM) of ceasefire violation
In a statement issued on Monday, the government of India blamed the NSCN (IM) for the current tensions at Sihai Khanou. According to the defence PRO, Kohima, NSCN (IM) violated the ceasefire by setting up an “unauthorised camp” at Sihai Khunou/Khamasom area in Ukhrul.
“During the routine aerial recce (reconnaissance) on April 25, some suspected temporary hutment type structures were observed in the forest, in general area Sihai Khunou/Khamasom, Ukhrul. Troops deployed to verify confirmed the existence of an unauthorised camp of NSCN (IM) in that area.
“The commander requested the villagers and (the) pastor to inform (the) NSCN (IM) cadres to vacate the camp immediately as it is an unauthorised camp and is in gross violation of existing ceasefire ground rules. The same day, (the) general secretary of United Naga Council gave a phone call to (the) commander of Assam Rifles Sector and confirmed the presence of NSCN (IM) camp in that area,” read the defence statement.
Reportedly, the chairman of ceasefire monitoring group was briefed about the prevailing situation and the existence of an unauthorised camp of NSCN (IM) in the general area Sihai Khunou/Khamasom on April 26, at around 6 pm by the inspector general of Assam Rifles.
“On April 27, at around 2.15 pm, it was confirmed by the chairman of CFMG that instructions have been issued by the group for immediate vacation of the NSCN (IM) camp. Accordingly, Assam Rifles troops contacted the villagers to confirm the vacation of the camp. In the meanwhile, the area has been reinforced by additional troops and the unauthorised camp is under constant surveillance by air and other means.
“Aerial reconnaissance on April 27 morning revealed that the camp has not been vacated. The onus for inconvenience to villagers is entirely due to the irresponsible actions by NSCN( IM) cadres; the security forces have shown great restraint. The villagers who were again sent towards the camp today met ‘Lt. Col.’ David Rambo who is awaiting instructions from Hebron,” the statement read.
It stated that ‘despite extreme restraint shown by Assam Rifles troops’, the NSCN (IM) was yet to vacate the “unauthorised” camp. “This is a serious violation of ceasefire ground rule by (the) NSCN (IM). The onus for further escalation rests with (the) NSCN (IM) hierarchy, if the unauthorised camp is not vacated immediately,” it warned.
