EMN
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 13
The Assam Rifles on Sunday refuted media reports, including some of the local newspapers, that it had engaged in a military operation against the NSCN (K) on Saturday last inside the territorial boundaries of neighboring Myanmar.
“The genesis of the articles appears to be based on some mischievous comments posted in social media sites like Facebook by inimical elements of society. Involvement of Myanmar based cadres of NSCN (K) is a strong possibility especially after the NIA announcement of Rs 17 lac bounty on Khaplang and Niki Sumi,” the Assam Rifles stated in a press release.
It may be recalled that on September 10 last, a party of Assam Rifles while going to Avangkhu for conducting medical camp was fired upon by cadres of NSCN (K), it stated. “This party was also tasked to carry out verification of Border Pillars, which is a mandated task of Assam Rifles, being a Border Management force.
“During the days of ceasefire a small detachment of troops could go up to the border and verify the Border Pillars, more so, since we had an Assam Rifles post at Pokhungri. Consequent to the ceasefire abrogation the isolated posts at Pokhungri, Pungro and Ziphu in Phek district were closed down. Since then, it was imperative to send a large posse of troops for carrying out verification of Border Pillars to ensure security of the troops.”
As such, it stated, the intention of sending Assam Rifles troops to Avangkhu on September 10 last, was to carry out medical camp at Avangkhu as well as to verify the border pillars in the area. “After the Assam Rifles troops were fired upon by cadres of NSCN(K) en route to Avangkhu, it was decided to send a larger force to verify the border pillars and also prevent movement of NSCN (K) cadres from the border to Avangkhu and Pokhungri villages, as a security measure for own troops conducting medical camps.
“Movement of Assam Rifles troops’ towards the border’ has unnecessarily been construed as movement ‘across the border’ and linked up with some uncorroborated operations against Tsera Camp of NSCN (K). There is no road existing from Avangkhu to Tsera Village in Myanmar except a foot track, and there was a landslide between Pokhungri and Avangkhu due to which all vehicles were stationed at Pokhungri. Therefore all movement upto Avangkhu was carried out on foot,” it claimed.
So there is absolutely no question of any vehicles or soldiers moving across the border, according to the Assam Rifles. “ However since NIA has declared a large cash bounty for information about Khaplang and Niki Sumi, the possibility of other factions attacking the Tsera Camp is very likely. A sincere appeal is made to the media not to publish any report related to Assam Rifles without corroborating with the appropriate authorities.”
