Eastern Naga People's Organisation sounds alarm over Bangladeshi general's NE 'occupation' claim

• DIMAPUR — The Eastern Naga People's Organisation (ENPO) has raised concerns about security in the Northeast region, following a reported claim by Major General (Rtd.) ALM Fazlur Rahman of Bangladesh suggesting potential occupation of the NE region should India attack Pakistan.
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• In a statement issued on Sunday, the ENPO stated that its apprehension stems from “numerous unresolved issues dragging on for so many decades through lukewarm and divisive policies” of the government of India.
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• “Under such circumstances, the region might tend to succumb to such aggressive stand unless the GoI redefines its policies. Instead, GoI must uphold its utmost principle, ‘Unity in diversity’, in strengthening the people of the nation through liberty, equality and fraternity as envisaged in the preamble of the Indian Constitution,” the statement read.

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• Further fuelling anxieties, the ENPO highlighted the suspected saturation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the region and went on to state that this raises concerns about external invasion not only from across the border but also from within.
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• It advocated for a unified approach among all ethnic groups of NE states to develop a strategy for safeguarding their ancestral and traditional territories.
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• The organisation lauded the "proactive role" of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in demonstrating "dynamic and bold leadership skills" to protect the internal security of Assam. It called for similar strategic stances to be adopted by all Northeast states.
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• However, it also pointed out the Assam government's past role in "harbouring/accommodating lakhs of illegal immigrants for vote bank politics.”
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• The ENPO also commended the governor and the chief minister of Nagaland for their state-wide call for vigilance and national security, highlighting the state government's commitment to express solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces and the national leadership, reaffirming their commitment to national security and unity.
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• It stressed the need for both the central and state governments to neutralise any form of terror or atrocities inflicted upon Indian citizens.
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• Referencing the tragic Oting incident where 14 innocent youths were killed by security forces, the ENPO reiterated the importance of robust intelligence and strategic operational planning to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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• “The government of Indian must ensure that such negligence is not repeated in the North-eastern states of India,” it added.