- DIMAPUR — The
Western Naga Youth Front (WNYF) expressed solidarity with the couple and their
younger siblings, who were recently subjected to alleged intimidation, physical
assault, and extortion by operatives of the NSCN (Khango) group.
- WNYF said in a press statement that the couple, bona fide
members of the Eastern Nagaland People's Union Dimapur (ENPUD), were
manhandled, threatened, and coerced into signing a bond under duress, agreeing
to an arbitrary fine of INR 3 lakhs.
- “Disturbingly, they were also robbed of their hard-earned
savings at their residence. Such lawless acts, carried out without due process
or justification, amount to nothing short of criminal extortion and human
rights violations,” the statement read.
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- “Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the woman is a
legitimate customer care executive for eBay, a detail verified by the police
post-incident. She was wrongfully targeted under unfounded suspicions. In
today’s digital era, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19, many of our youth
have embraced online jobs and work-from-home roles to build an honest
livelihood. Instead of being supported or encouraged, this young woman was
harassed and robbed, a disgraceful reflection of how far we have strayed from
the values we claim to uphold,” it added.
- Condemning the act “in the strongest possible terms” and the
psychological terror, the WNYF noted that these actions not only breach the
principles of justice and dignity but also go against the very spirit of the
Naga struggle, which was founded on truth, self-respect, and unity.
- It appealed to all right-thinking Naga citizens, civil
society, and human rights bodies to denounce such behaviour that exploits their
own people under the guise of authority and called upon the Ceasefire
Monitoring Group and law enforcement agencies to take immediate cognisance of
this incident and ensure the safety, justice, and dignity of the victims.
- It said the time has come for people to speak not just
against illegal taxation but also against the misuse of power by any group that
claims to represent the Naga cause yet acts in ways that divide, intimidate,
and oppress.
- “We stand in strong solidarity with Chang Union Dimapur and
ENPUD in the pursuance of justice,” it concluded.