EMN
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 6
The Assam Rifles on Tuesday condemned the “barbaric and mindless murder” of two “innocent laborers” by the NSCN (K) on October 5 last at Zunheboto town.
A press statement from the Assam Rifles cited “inputs received from the civil administration” as saying that the victims were daily wage earners from Bihar. “One of the laborers had been working in Nagaland for the past ten years while the second laborer had arrived only around mid September 2015.
“How a Bihari daily wage laborer can provide information of NSCN (K) cadres to the Army can only be explained by the murderers who have carried out the execution or their wise leaders who have ordered the execution,” it stated. In a passage dripping with sarcasm, the Assam Rifles also exuded belief that “such acts of violence will be condemned by the Naga Mothers’ Association, Naga Hoho, NTC, Tribal Hohos and all NGOs who are yearning for peace and tranquility in the region.”
It is well known that NSCN (K) is facing problems of very low morale among their cadres, according to the statement. “There is a severe trust deficit between NSCN (K) cadres from Nagaland and Myanmar. Shortage of funds and fresh recruits is another problem being faced by them. The intention of murdering the two innocent laborers appears to be an act of frustration and desperation.
“Frustration because their bank accounts have been frozen and their properties are being confiscated by the government, and desperation because no contractor or villager is willing to give them money, food and shelter. When stealing becomes difficult and begging does not produce the desired results, then they resort to killing innocent non-Nagas to spread fear and terror.”
It is expected that the law agencies will take all necessary actions to bring the perpetrators to justice, it stated while also hoping that the state government will pay adequate compensation to the families of the “murdered individuals.”
