Kohima : The ‘impasse’ between the security forces and the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim which started Thursday at Pfutsero has been resolved Friday afternoon. Highly placed sources revealed that although the officer and jawans were released ‘unharmed’ last night itself, the NSCN-IM cadres had not returned the arms and ammunition of the Assam Rifles.
However, after hectic parleys between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM with the assistance of the Chakhesang Public Organization and civic bodies, the outfit returned the arms bringing an end the impasse at around 3 pm on Friday.
The arms included a carbine and five AK-47 rifles with hundreds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the Commander of 3 Corps, Lieutenant General R K Loomba was in Kohima on Friday to take stock of the situation.
It may be recalled that a captain and four-five jawans of an Assam Rifles patrol were taken captive by armed cadres of the underground outfit on Thursday at around 1 pm. The incident happened from a place near Zhamai under Phek district, bordering Nagaland-Manipur known as Kopamedzu which is also a designated camp of the Naga underground group.
In a statement issued late last night, the Assam Rifles said a “large strength” of the outfit’s activists, overpowered an officer and five jawans of an Assam Rifles patrol. The AR force was patrolling the area between Zhamai and the NSCN-IM designated camp at Kopamedzu. It also said that the Assam Rifles personnel exercised restrain in view of prevailing situation and termed the act of the NSCN-IM cadres as gross violation of cease fire ground rules.
On the other hand, the NSCN-IM accused that Captain Momo and the jawans were taken what was stated as “under custody”, for intruding into the group’s designated camp in combat uniform and weapons without any pre-information.
However, after hectic parleys between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM with the assistance of the Chakhesang Public Organization and civic bodies, the outfit returned the arms bringing an end the impasse at around 3 pm on Friday.
The arms included a carbine and five AK-47 rifles with hundreds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the Commander of 3 Corps, Lieutenant General R K Loomba was in Kohima on Friday to take stock of the situation.
It may be recalled that a captain and four-five jawans of an Assam Rifles patrol were taken captive by armed cadres of the underground outfit on Thursday at around 1 pm. The incident happened from a place near Zhamai under Phek district, bordering Nagaland-Manipur known as Kopamedzu which is also a designated camp of the Naga underground group.
In a statement issued late last night, the Assam Rifles said a “large strength” of the outfit’s activists, overpowered an officer and five jawans of an Assam Rifles patrol. The AR force was patrolling the area between Zhamai and the NSCN-IM designated camp at Kopamedzu. It also said that the Assam Rifles personnel exercised restrain in view of prevailing situation and termed the act of the NSCN-IM cadres as gross violation of cease fire ground rules.
On the other hand, the NSCN-IM accused that Captain Momo and the jawans were taken what was stated as “under custody”, for intruding into the group’s designated camp in combat uniform and weapons without any pre-information.
NSCN (IM) says AR violated ceasefire
Dimapur : Responding to the charges leveled by the Assam Rifles that the outfit was violating the ceasefire ground rules, the NSCN (IM) returned the blame on the Indian armed forces. The MIP in a note asserted that on January 8 at around 1:00 pm a group of AR personnel from the 33 Assam Rifles led by one Capt. S. Momo and four other jawans ‘intruded’ into the zone of “Ihoshe battalion of Naga army” near Pfutsero, which is a designated camp. “Naga Army was left with no option but to exercise the military command of duty to defend its territorial rights as demarcated by the Indo-Naga ceasefire”, the NSCN (IM) maintained. It was informed that the five AR personnel were overpowered by the activists and detained for “interrogation”.
“The version of the AR was that they were doing patrolling duty. But, the question is, why at the gate of the designated camp? An official of the rank of captain should know the rules that governed the ceasefire for the past 11 years”, the MIP note stated.
In the light of what it described as “provocative episode”, the NSCN (IM) went on to point out that there was more about Capt. S. Momo than what meet the eyes and that his “notorious movement in the Chakhesang area is nothing new” further alleging that he has been a source of social irritants for quite some time. But despite the unwarranted interference of this officer as witnessed by the authorities of the area including S.D.P.O, C.P.O (Chakhesang people’s Organization) GBs etc. nothing was done to stop him from going overboard, the MIP stated. “And this is just another repetition of his unauthorized intrusion into the area”.
The NSCN (IM) informed that the five personnel were compelled to undergo serious interrogation at the hands of the Naga Army, and they were not kept in Naga Army’s
custody for more than what is required. They were released on the midnight of January 8, 2009 after making the civil societies and district administration as witnesses. Their weapons were also eventually released after the Assam Rifles admitted their mistakes, the MIP note stated.
The MIP note also reminded that the Indo-Naga Ceasefire that was reached in August 1st, 1997 bears historical significance because the long years of Indo-Naga conflict reflected the futility of seeking military solution by suppressing the Naga political struggle. The Indian military generals realized this impracticality, which ultimately striked the political consciousness of the bosses in New Delhi, the MIP stated. “The Nagas under NSCN was only defending its political right that has been intruded and suppressed”, it stated adding that the NSCN’s endurance for more than 11years after ceasefire demonstrates its faith on political solution and not military solution.
Nevertheless, the NSCN (IM) stated that the Indo-Naga ceasefire was simply not signed on blank paper and that certain obligations are attached to preserve the sanctity of the ceasefire and one of the obligations prohibits the Indian Armed forces from coming within the range of 1 Km of any NSCN’s designated camps without getting prior approval from the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell. Violation of this is therefore, against the ceasefire spirit as laid down, it clarified.