Our Reporter
Dimapur, Dec. 16 (EMN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) submitted a representation to the President of India through the governor of Nagaland in connection with the Oting massacre on December 4.
This was informed by the president of NPCC, K Therie during a press conference at Congress Bhavan Dimapur on Thursday.
While highlighting serious problems faced by the people of Nagaland, Therie said that Congress considers the resolutions of the political problem of Nagaland above political party boundary lines and their consistent policy is to endeavour to solve the political problem through peaceful and constitutional means. Therefore, they have supported two agreements that were signed on August 3, 2015 and Nov. 17, 2019.
The representation stated that all resistant forces were under “Ceasefire Agreement” with the government of India since 1976 and 2001 and the remaining ‘99% were peace-loving civilians’. Given the circumstances and situation, AFSPA is not necessary, it added.
‘And if impunity is given to Oting massacre criminals; on the strength of AFSPA, it is an utter violation of ceasefire and uncalled for. The action shows India is going back from its own commitment.
‘The Oting massacre has added salt to the injuries of 93 years of Naga struggle for freedom and taking life in a mistaken identity in this sophisticated world, nothing can compensate for the loss,’ it said.
The representation also requested the President of India to examine the government of Nagaland with the BJP alliance, and mentioned that the Neiphiu Rio-led government adopted a policy to facilitate and support the ongoing peace process on August 19, 2005 and during that time, NSCN (IM) was the only group negotiating with the GOI, giving freedom to the group to extort and run a parallel government’.
It further claimed that the police forces were used to escort insurgent leaders and the action had ‘demoralised them completely’, while the policy of facilitation was ‘forced in the veins of government employees’.
‘Today, the state government administrative and judiciary systems have been subverted and it is playing second fiddle only,’ it added.
It also mentioned that after coming back to power in 2018, the government adopted a policy to “actively facilitate”, knowing well that there is a multi-parallel government in control, rendering complete collapse of law and order in the state. Former Nagaland Governor RN Ravi had also admitted that law and order had collapsed in the state, it read.
The representation also mentioned that the Union Home Minister had admitted that the Dec. 4 incident was a case of ‘mistaken identity’, while Lok Sabha MP of Nagaland, Tokheho Yepthomi, in the Parliament, admitted that the intelligence report was about NSCN (K) roaming in that area, ‘therefore it is clear that, the mistaken identity was NSCN (K). This is with the intent to abrogate ceasefire from the GOI side,’ it claimed.
‘The Union list 2A states that the Union deploys forces to aid the state. The word aid implies state requisitions for help,’ it read and asked if Nagaland Chief Minister had borrowed 21 para military troopers from Assam Chief Minister 'for he has no confidence in the Nagaland Police’.
‘Or else, with what authority they had encroached on the territory of Nagaland state,’ read the statement.
The NPCC further demanded actions to be taken by the government of India -- to constitute an all-party parliamentary committee to investigate the Oting massacre, deliver justice by arresting the culprits, and implement a solution under President Rule to avoid bias and ill will.