A delegation of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) travelling to Myanmar for a meeting related to a cultural exchange programme, was reportedly denied entry at the Avancgkhu check gate by Assam Rifles personnel.
KOHIMA — A delegation of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) travelling to Myanmar for a meeting related to a cultural exchange programme, was reportedly denied entry at the Avancgkhu check gate by Assam Rifles personnel.
The student body has accused the Assam Rifles of stopping its delegation at the check gate while en route to meet the Naga Students’ Organisation leaders in Myanmar for a crucial meeting regarding cultural exchange for an upcoming festival, despite producing a reference letter from the Phokhungri Area Public Organisation (PAPO), addressed to the post commander.
In a video message, NSF president Mteisuding Heraang said the gate commander had told them that the commanding official in Phek had directed not to allow them to cross the border--“not even an inch”.
“This is a big question. Today, the Assam Rifles has challenged the integrity of the Naga people, which Naga Students’ Federation will not tolerate in any manner,” he said.
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“From today, we will see how the armed force also functions in our Naga homeland. This is a clear clarion to all the Naga people,” he added.
Narrating the incident, Heraang said the post commander rejected their request over the phone, saying that they wouldn’t be given a pass to enter Myanmar. However, after reaching the gate, they were told that a pass could be given to allow the NSF delegation to walk on foot towards the border area, which he termed “unacceptable”.
“Today such a reputed body (NSF) is not being allowed. What about our mere Naga public? Nagas have to rise and question the government of India and the Assam Rifles,” he added.
He went on to claim that democracy had been “betrayed and as well as killed in Naga homeland”, while urging to do away with the culture of dominance”.
The great divide
Meanwhile, NSN Lotha, former NSF president and chairman of the Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) under the NSF, who was also part of the delegation, said such restrictions make one question the “very integrity of the Indian government”.
“Allow us to visit our own Naga brothers across the borders. We are for free movement regime (FMR). We are not criminals. We are not anti-nationals,” he said.
Former NSF president, Vipopal Kintso, also lamented the restriction, saying: that Nagas are “throttled in the neck by the arbitrary decisions of the Indian government”.
“This check gate is not allowing us to even cultivate our own lands in our own land,” he added.
Former NSF president, Imchatoba Imchen, described the incident as a “mockery of our democracy”, saying that “the right to free movement has already been altered.”
“Democracy has been destroyed and this has been rightly displayed by the Assam Rifles. We don’t tolerate this,” he said.
NSF general secretary, Kenilo Kent, said the Naga homeland extends far beyond the check posts set up by the Indian government.
“If they want to set up check posts or any outposts, they need to extend beyond the Naga homeland,” he said, adding that “It is far beyond these imposed shadow lines that they have imposed upon us. I say leave and let live.”
The NSF leaders also questioned whether the Assam Rifles were truly “Friends of the Hill People”, saying that their action at the border contradicts their motto, turning Nagas into criminals.