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Public rally being held to protest against confrontation between NSCN (K) and Assam Rifles at Aughunato Town on Sunday.[/caption]
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 4 : Residents of Aghunato town and nearby villages assembled in thousands on Sunday morning at Aghunato town to register their protest against armed confrontation between NSCN (K) and 5 Assam Rifles on Friday last.
The rally was organized by leading public organizations of the area including Sumi Totimi Hoho, Eastern Sumi Students' Union, GBs Hoho and Aghunato Town Students' Union. The gathering, which included school students from Aghunato town, “protested and condemned bloodshed in an around Aghunato Area”.
According to organizers, the “rallyists strongly condemned the act meted out to the 5 Assam Rifles by NSCN-K when people are aspiring for peace.” The violent confrontation occurred when NSCN (K) members ambushed an AR convoy some 2 km away from Aghunato Town “near Horsefall Mountain” injuring 4 AR personnel in the process, according to the organizers of the rally.
During the rally, Kuhozhe Achumi, president of GB Hoho Aghunato Area, “questioned the various factions as to what wrong did the peace loving people of Aghunato do that they are bringing these kinds of armed conflicts at the soil of Aghunato”.
Other speakers, including Hoito Achumi, vice-chairman of Adhoc Town Committee (Aghunato) and Vihepu Yeputhomi, president of Eastern Sumi Students' Union urged the members of the public to “take precautionary measures” as well as “give more support” to one another in times of such conflict.
Meanwhile, a separate press note issued by Sumi Hoho president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Vihuto Asumi said, Sumi Hoho and its frontal organizations including the Sumi Kukami Hoho, Sumi Totimi Hoho and Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhakulu vehemently condemned the incident near Aghunato town between Luvishe village and Ghokishe village wherein 5 Assam Rifles convoy was ambushed by the NSCN (K) cadres while returning back to Zunheboto after a patrolling at Aghunato and injuring four jawans.
“The incident was never expected and uncalled for. When Nagas are crying for peace and yearning for honourable and acceptable solution, intimidation is against the wish and voice of the people. The Sumi Hoho urged upon the GoI and NSCN (K) to resume ceasefire as it is only through dialogue and not violence that can solve the long pending Indo-Naga issue.”
Viyixe orgs condemn assault
Viyixe Students' Union (VSU) and Western Viyixe Village Union (WVVU) have strongly condemned the ‘barbaric’ act of the 5 Assam Rifles in which one Paul Anche, son of Hewoto Anche and GB of Viyixe village, was physically assaulted without any reason on September 2. Paul Anche is serving as DB-II under Additional Deputy Commissioner, Aghunato.
VSU president, Kiyekhu Yeptho, stated that the incident happened within an hour of unfortunate firing incident that took place near Aghunato. The victim Paul Anche was returning to village after attending the duty in ADC Customary Court, Aghunato, where he has been serving. He was halted at the Tri- Junction in Aghunato town, some 4-5 kilometer away from the reported site of firing incident.
It informed that Assam Rifles came from the confronting site towards the town and started harassing those who were gathered there. While others managed to escape, it was reported that Assam Rifles surrounded him and started to punch, kick and hit him with gun butts inspite of identifying himself as DB serving under ADC Customary Court, Aghunato. The VSU denounced 5 Assam Rifles for preaching ‘Friends of the Hill People’ but not sparing even a responsible public servant. The two organisations have urged the concerned authority to compensate the victim, who is undergoing treatment with serous internal injuries. It further appealed to all NPGs to restrain themselves from such clashes especially in public areas.
