DIMAPUR: The GPRN/ NSCN (Unification) on Monday expressed shock at the statement issued by the Assam Rifles PRO (Defence) about the March 15 episode, claiming that none of its members were armed or in military dress during the encounter at the private property.
In a statement issued by MIP, GPRN/NSCN, the group said that “all entities ought to handle situations in a humane and matured way” during the ceasefire period.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]It went on to state that there was no official communiqué from the CFMG to GPRN/NSCN or to Zutovi Village Council informing that the village periphery and private farms were sensitive areas.
“Nagas are generally expressive and great lovers of outdoor gatherings and leisurely farm events. Unarmed Naga national workers, civil or military workers, cannot be accused of violating ceasefire for recreational programmes in their own farms during peacetime,” it read.
It went on to claim that an AR officer “displayed reckless mannerism”.
“As soon as the incident was reported, the GPRN/NSCN’s CFSB members reached the scene; the said officer ordered his men to seize all the mobile phones at gunpoint and responded menacingly to any query and clarification sought. The officer did not bother to check the special identity cards of GPRN/NSCN officials issued by the Government of India (GoI) through CFMG. Such aggression and shockingly irresponsible outburst by an officer has tarnished the image of whole unit,” read the statement.
The statement went on to claim that one GPRN/NSCN’s CFSB official was “assaulted”.
“The guard of GPRN/NSCN Ceasefire Supervisor was brutally manhandled. The PRO (Defence) may authenticate the facts from Western Sumi GBs (WSKH) and village elders who were at hand to resolve the matter,” it read.
“The PRO (Defence) may take note that the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), GPRN/NSCN is a full-fledged ministry, authorized and empowered to process and publish all government statements on media platforms, print or electronic. Therefore, the PRO (Defence) claiming, ‘…statement was published in certain section of the media without the comments from appropriate authority’ reflects very poor understanding of the elementary rules and structure with regard to delegation and distribution of power in any government,” it added.