EMN
Dimapur, July 17
The Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North), Maj Gen MS Jaswal on Friday accused the local newspapers of being “selective” in their news reportage and suggested that the security forces have been handed an unfair deal by the local press.
This accusation by the IGAR (N) was delivered at a news conference, which was convened in connection with the Phor village incident, here today in Dimapur. According to the IGAR (N), the Assam Riffles were first informed “by the district administration” that the NSCN (K) had abducted 15 children from the villages of Avangkhu and Pokhungri under Meluri sub-division, in the last one month, “to forcefully recruit them” to the organization.
The shootout that led to the death of three NSCN (K) cadres, and subsequently of two schoolchildren at Phor village, were results of a “planned operation” to rescue those “abducted” children, he said. It was when a reporter from The Morung Express queried the IGAR (N) on the assault of five civilians by AR personnel in Kohima that the latter cited the alleged “abduction” of 15 children by the NSCN (K) to accuse the local press of being “selective.”
He accused that not even one of the local newspapers have reported on this alleged “abduction” of children while the assault incident of Kohima, in his own words, “have been played out in the national media” for four/five days.
Despite protestations from the assembled journalists that it was impossible for the local press to meet the NSCN (K) leaders to confirm such accusations in the current situation, especially from the perspective of security, the IGAR (N) accused the Nagaland newspapers of being biased and selective in their coverage of news.
The IGAR (N) was not pleased with the line of questioning the journalists took in connection with the killing of two schoolchildren at Phor village. The exchange of words became harsh-toned even as the press pack reasoned that they would subject the NSCN (K) leaders to similar, if not more critical questioning, if they were sitting in place of the IGAR (N).
During the news conference, the IGAR also suggested that the villagers of Phor in Meluri sub-division under Phek district are being used as “human shields” by the Naga underground group NSCN (K). “Either acting in connivance or under pressure from the NSCN (K), the villagers of Phor stopped our convoy,” he said.
The events that unfolded after the security forces were stopped by the villagers have already been reported extensively by all the local dallies on Friday.
However, in contradiction to the claim by an Assam Rifles officer on Thursday that the security personnel did not retaliate due to the presence of villagers, the IGAR said that the convoy fired back in retaliation.
Jaswal however claimed that the two schoolchildren were killed by the NSCN (K) and not by the Assam Rifles. “We have no reason to fire at the villagers of Phor. We were returning after a successful operation.”
He also identified the name of the three slain NSCN (K) cadres as “captain” Wangchu, “corporal” Kipsenong and “lance corporal” Longyem, whose body is yet to be discovered. Their identity was established after the security forces had “intercepted” a radio communication between NSCN (K) members, he informed.
