The Pochury GB Union is pained and expressed our utter shocked to read the so called ‘clarification’ on Phor village episode of 16th July 2015. The news reads, “The Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), Maj Gen MS Jaswal today out rightly denied that the two students killed Thursday evening at Phor village were caused by Assam Rifles firing but they were killed due to firing from NSCN (K) cadres, who attacked an AR convoy transporting bodies of 2 NSCN (K) cadres killed earlier to Akhegwo Police Station.” This is nothing but a complete lie and distortion of the truth which many people who were on the crime scene on that fateful day can testify.Here is the sequence of the incident which the Assam Rifles MajorSurinder Singh in his right mind will agree and should agree to the truth for the simple reason that while the village leaders 3 VCCs of Phor, New Phor and Wuzu and others were negotiating with him to hand over the dead body of ‘Captain’ Puhachu and his deceased colleague where the Major Singh politely declined that they have to first hand over to the Police and from there the villagers can receive the dead bodies. They offered the readymade coffin as the dead bodies were being brought without coffin. The Major said that would not be a problem. While negotiating with the Major, his soldiers sitting in Gypsy in front of him (The major was coming by Mini truck), started firing (the reason only the first personnel who fired can explain why he did so when everything was going smoothly). Thereafter everyone started running helter-skelter. The security personnel then, without checking how that had happened, started firing indiscriminately killing 2 innocent school going children and injuring a mother of one.
On that fateful evening of 16th July 2015, at around 6:30 PM, on hearing that the dead body of late ‘Captain Puhachu of NSCN (K) (from Wuzu village) was killed on 15th July 2015aytAvakhung (not Avangkhu), the relatives and the public of Phor, New Phor and Wuzu villages were gathering at Wuzu village to receive the mortal remains of the late ‘Captain.’ The villagers have made 2 coffins for late Puhachu and his colleague who were killed at Avakhung.
The Assam Rifles came and reached Wuzu in five vehicles (407 Truck, Gypsy, Tata truck, 407 truck and 407 truck) under the command of Major Surinder Singh. The first 3 vehicles stopped at near the Community Hall. The fourth vehicle with Major Surinder Singh followed by the last vehicle stopped at outside the residence of Shri Yichüli, Lance Naik of Village Guard (VG) of Wuzu Post.
The village leaders, being acquainted with the Major Surinder Singh, went and requested the Major to hand over the mortal remains. The major politely expressed his inability to do as requested. Then the relatives requested the Major to accept the readymade coffins for the deceased. While negotiating the matter with the Major on the issue, suddenly, to the utter surprise of everyone, the occupants of Gypsy started firing (The driver Shri Rashid and his colleagues of one private Tata truck standing near the Gypsy vehicle at that juncture can testify this). Then the occupants of Major Surinder Singh’s vehicle also started firing indiscriminately followed by the last occupants of the last vehicle. The pleas of the public to stop the firing went unheeded for about 20 (twenty) minutes. The so called ‘security personnel’ fled from the scene of the crime.
In the event of such an unprovoked firing two innocent school going children, Master Tüzali, age 14 years, s/o Sükaho of Phor village and Ms Aso, age 13 years, d/o T. Yeteli of Wuzu village, both Class 7 students of Pholary Government High School, Phor, were killed and one Mrs Vitsürho (Esther), age 24 years, a mother of one and w/o of Shri Rütu of Wuzu village injured. Ms Aso was killed instantly inside her house when the Assam Rifles personnel fired indiscriminately to all the houses in and around the spot and Master Tüzali outside on the street. The Vitsürho was injured with her child in arms while running away from the scene.
Having fled the crime scene, the major called up Mr Chili, the VCC of New Phor at 7:14 PM as per mobile record) and Mr C. Pitu Thurr at 7:28 PM as per mobile record) from mobile phone No.8732891987, accusing the villagers tried to ambush the ‘security forces’ in collusion with the undergrounds which the two chairmen retorted that it was he and his personnel who have committed a serious crime by killing two children and injuring one mother besides destroying properties.
The villagers, under no circumstances used any provocative words, neither used any materials, such as stone pelting, fire arms to provoke the security personnel in the course their negotiation with the Major. Our assumption, which may be the truth, is that the security personnel, including those so called ‘Para Commandos’ were coming with fear psychosis that anywhere, any place they may be attacked or ambushed, after dismantling the NSCN(K)’s last camp in Pochury area where they have killed two cadres. If not there is no other reason why such foolishness and merciless action could have been perpetrated to the innocent civilians. For us, the people of Pochury, have been reminded through this despicable action of the Assam Rifles the late 1950s and early 1960s where the Assam Rifles have massacred the innocent public both physically and mentally beyond tolerance.
We, the public have no say when the two opposing forces fight and kill each other as it a part of their duties. If any group are careless and unfortunate the opponent team shall overrun it. Thereis nothing the civilian society, the public can say much. Even in this case, the public have not raised any voice when the Assam Rifles went and attacked the camp at Avakhung. We know that it was a smart act and the wisdom of the Para Commandos have ameliorated the NSCN (K)’s. We feel sorry for the loss of lives but the civil society have nothing to interfere here. The core issue of the public’ anger today is killing of innocent people through unprovoked (I repeat unprovoked) firing and the lie you and your men are trying to influence. You know better that the last column of the NSCN (K) cadres weredefeated and chaseddown to Myanmar the previous day and they have no chopper as was used by your ‘Para Commandos’ on that day. How could they reach Phor within a matter of 12 hours(6 AM to 6 PM) and ambush your boys at Wuzu village? Everyone (including you or do you?) knows that there are no more NSCN (K) cadres in and around Pochury land any more at this juncture after the Organisation abrogated the Cease Fire agreement.
The same day (16.07.2015), at 9:30 PM, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Meluri came and verified the spot and ascertained the fact of the event. This was followed by the visit of the Commissioner, Home Commissioner and the Director General of Police and ascertained the fact of the incident. These Nagaland Government officials’ visit was followed by Naga Students Federation, different NGOs of Pochury like Pochury Hoho, Pochury Students Union, Pochury GB Union, Pochury Mothers Association, Pochury Baptist Church Council, and Pochury Council of Nagaland Christian Revival Church visited the spot to take stock of the situation. Now, the people know what had happened on that day and how it started.
So, Mr Major GeneralManvendra Singh Jaswal, do not try to mislead the public by distorting the truth. There was no one who have shot any single bullet from any person but from the coward occupants of that Gypsy who started the whole ugly scene on that fateful day. Do not try to protect the guilty. Remember that yours is, whether one likes it or not, ‘Security Force.’ I advise you to be one and tell your men to be humane in action and not with all these empty talks. No one believed you when you ‘clarified’ and don’t believe your Major Surinder Singh and his arrogant boys, particularly in this case. Your men’s careless, and indifference attitude to the public has contributed to two more dead bodies. Now, you aretrying to rub the injury with salt when the truth says otherwise. Unbelievable.
And as for your injured boys, remember, they were coming from Avakhung, after killing two NSCN cadres in a fierce gun battle that lasted about five hours (11 PM on 15th July 2015 to 5 AM on 16th July 2015. Also, imaging, five vehicles’ occupants firing to different directions from five spots on that day at Wuzu village. After all they have killed two innocent students. Let me also remind you that your 3 personnel were hiding in nullah on that day. They were declared lost because the Major and his other vehicle bound men left them lying there at Wuzunullah fighting. Fortunate that the villagers went and told them not to fire anymore at the public as they have already killed two innocent students. Only then those poor ‘neglected’ three personnel ran and found their way back.
The lie cannot be the truth and the truth cannot be the lie. They tried to conceal the truth. But the truth come out and it will prevail.
Meanwhile, the Pochury GB Union convey our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved innocent victimfamily members. May peace reigns in the family in the days to come.
