NNN
SENAPATI, December 30
The United Naga Council (UNC) has demanded from Union Home minister Rajnath Singh to remove Manipur state security forces from “Ceasefire areas”.
This demand was made as the UNC took the Somrei village shooting incident to Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.
In its lengthy memorandum, the UNC sought the intervention and disposal of justice against human rights abuse and crime against religious freedom and the Christian festival, Christmas “being perpetrated” by the Manipur police commandos. The UNC mentioned in its memorandum that in the evening of December 26, 2015 at around 7 pm, the Christian festival gathering of the said village was intentionally disrupted by some Manipur police commando personnel and “they have abused, molested and assaulted and also maligned the modesty of innocent girls” before the public of K. Somrei Naga village of Senapati and Ukhrul districts, under Nongpok Sekmai police station of Thoubal district.
“In the following evening of December 27, 2015, Mr. Chithung Anando was brutally beaten up causing serious injury by the police personals posted at Anupam Bridge Concrete Infrastructure (ABCI) Pvt. Ltd. Company Camp at the said village. The local folks angered by their repeated harassment approached the police commando post protesting and demanding justice into the incidents,” the memorandum said.“However, the exchange of verbal clash and under harsh provocation by the uncivil response of the commando officials resulted public injuries when the commandos opened fire indiscriminately injuring 4 (four) persons including a widow and a school teacher and 2 (two) students were wounded while another 4 (four) persons were brutally assaulted and detained,” it stated. The UNC identified the victims as Mrs. S. Shimreiwon 35 years, w/o Late S. Wungshungmi, Mr. S. Somikan, 14 years, s/o Late S. Wungshungmi, Mr. KS. Ngalingam, 14 years, s/o Late KS. Lachaoching all Somrei Village and Mr. Ngashanhor Chiphang, 28 years, s/o Samson Chiphang, Asstt. Teacher of STNBA High School Irong. And also for severely beating and torturing Mr. C. Anando, 48 years, s/o C. Lungshim, Mr. SP. Chinouchung 53 years, s/o Late SP. Yarson, Mr. S. Leishingam, 30 years s/o s. Ringai, Mr. S. Sothemhor, 39 years, s/o S. Kasomphung and Mr. H. Thashung 14 years s/o H. Ningatei all from Somrei village.
According to the UNC memorandum, the “helpless civilians” were further harassed, driven out and in the event, the panicky local folks suffered immense humiliation and remorse. The public have failed to find justice against the unruly behavior of the police commandos who disrupted the whole Christmas celebrations.
It then said, “The Naga tribal people living in the present state of Manipur have faced the brute force of state sponsored terrorism in the recent past and recently by killing 2 promising Naga students on May 6, 2010 at Mao-Gate injuring and maiming hundreds of civilians during the progress of prayer gathering for the proposed visit of Mr. Th. Muivah, Ato Kilonser, Chief Negotiator, NSCN, killing of 2 Naga youths on August 31, 2014 at Ukhrul headquarter and injuring hundreds of innocent civilians in the firing during the progress of Peace Rally being held in support of Indo-Naga political talks and also killing of 9 tribal at Churachandpur headquarter on August 31 and September 1, 2015 while defending the inalienable rights of the tribal on the most controversial 3 bills being passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly and whose bodies are still laying at the morgue of Civil Hospital Churachandpur and recently of K. Somrei Tangkhul tribal village.”
“The State communal forces have constantly shown apathy and ill-will against the peaceful civilians of the hill areas particularly the 4 Naga districts of Chandel, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong where Indo-Naga Cease Fire has been in place. The one and half decade old peace talk should not be hijacked by evil elements and International festival should be left alone,” the memorandum continued.
It further said the “state sponsored elements and sabotaging forces” should not be allowed to go on unchecked while the people are prayerfully and hopefully aspiring for the final stage of the Frame Work Agreement which would bring permanent peace in the region.
Failure to concede the above points, the agitation may resume by the people of the area in which United Naga Council (UNC) may be obliged to extend solidarity to the victims and demand for maintenance of human rights for every citizen of the country with special case to this area, the memorandum cautioned.
