Dimapur, February 10 (MExN): The ghost of Shiroi standoff between the NSCN (IM) and the Assam Rifles refuses to die down. The NSCN (IM) today, in an elaborate press statement about the Shiroi standoff, strongly stated that a “mere Para military force like the Assam Rifles stop overrating their significance in the Indo-Naga issue”.
A press release received here from the NSCN (IM) which was issued by ‘Col’ Levi Zimik “PRO/GHQ, Naga Army” narrated the turn of events regarding the ‘13’ day stand off at Shiroi, Ukhrul this January. While replying to an article written by Ashok Tipnis, under the caption, ‘Shirui Incident: An Appreciation & Credit and Positives’ which appeared in February 9 issue of The Morung Express, the release asserted that there are ‘some misinformations’ which need to be corrected.
In this connection, the release stated that the headquarters of Kiusumong Battalion, after being shifted ‘en block’ from Tuensang to Ukhrul district in 2004, was inaugurated on May 25, 2004 at T.M Kasom Village. However, because of complaints from AR, ‘alleging’ that the camp was too close to the highway, its base was shifted to Langdang village.
Again in the early part of 2005, the release stated, there were complaints from AR about the Camp at Langdang, who alleged that it was too close to the district Headquarters, and so the NSCN (IM) moved down towards the Mapithel range in the southern part of Ukhrul and settled near Marou village.
However, ‘a major stand-off situation’ took place when, the release asserted, ‘the notorious Assam Rifles’ blocked all roads to the village which lasted for almost a month. The tense situation was subsided by the intervention of the CFMG, it informed. “Subsequently, through mutual agreement, Kiusumong Battalion was made to settle at Shirui village in the middle of 2005,” the release stated.
“There too, we had to move our make shift camp three times from one place to another due to disturbances from AR on one pretext or the other,” the release stated and added that at one time, the Assam Rifles “intruded” into the NSCN (IM) camp area in October 2006. “Five of them along with arms were captured by our cadres. They were released that same evening unharmed in the spirit of Ceasefire Agreement,” the release stated.
Then, in February 2007 just a few days before the Assembly Elections, the release narrated, a firing encounter took place ‘when the AR jawans surrounded the NSCN (IM) base camp in the jungle of Shirui’.
“In spite of perpetual disturbance from AR, we had restrained ourselves to the limit so as to preserve the peaceful atmosphere. On the contrary, it was obviously a direct breach of ceasefire ground rules and we could not find a way out to avert the situation. When the soldier’s honor is trampled upon and life threatened, there can be no option but to fight back in defense,” the release maintained. It also maintained that at last, “at the request of the AR themselves suggesting that we camp openly near the village in order to avoid accidental encounters in future, we set up our camp in the vicinity of Shirui village”.
“The village authority consented to it without any objection and the concerned authorities of both sides viz: CFMG Chairman Lt. Gen Kulkarni and Convener CFMC Brig. Ph. Shimrang were informed of this arrangement to which they satisfyingly acknowledged. The only loophole was that a written document in the strict sense of legality for the establishment of a designated camp in Shirui was yet to be formally signed. Nevertheless, it was generally understood and openly accepted that Shirui was the designated Camp of Kiusumong Battalion since May 2007,” the release maintained.
“Then in May 2008, for our own convenience, we had planned to shift our camp from Shirui to Khambi village towards the Eastern Tangkhul Area. This arrangement was intimated to the DIG 10 Sector, Brig. Mendar, to which he promptly acknowledged. However, after the completion of camp construction at Khampi, the Assam Rifles begun to sing a different tune again, saying Shirui was the only area designated for Kiusumong Battalion. Therefore, though feeling cheated, we returned to our old camp in Shirui that August, maintaining congenial relationship with the locals as well as the security personnel in the area until the fateful event of the siege episode,” the release asserted. In this connection, the release stated that it is for the right thinking citizens to identify “who the real culprits are, playing the villain’s role in the unfortunate standoff at Shirui, giving troubles to the village folks and spreading fear psychosis in the area”.
“As substantiated by the facts above, the Shirui incident was neither our creation nor our intention. It was one of the series of bullying gestures of the Assam Rifles who, for reasons best known to them have always been trying to score even with us. Simply put, it was their desperate attempt to take revenge for their shameful show at Phek a few days before Shirui,” the release stated.
“In all counts, we are not responsible for whatever grudges they may have against us. For, we do not have any issue with the Assam Rifles. The plain truth is that, we are having Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India and to that effect we shall stand by the integrity of our Collective Leadership. We extent our commitment to the Assam Rifles by virtue of their position as an agent of Indian security, and in that spirit, we have been exercising restraint even when dangerously confronted. It is high time that a mere Para military force like the Assam Rifles stop overrating their significance in the Indo-Naga issue,” the release asserted.
Source: THE MORUNG EXPRESS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
A press release received here from the NSCN (IM) which was issued by ‘Col’ Levi Zimik “PRO/GHQ, Naga Army” narrated the turn of events regarding the ‘13’ day stand off at Shiroi, Ukhrul this January. While replying to an article written by Ashok Tipnis, under the caption, ‘Shirui Incident: An Appreciation & Credit and Positives’ which appeared in February 9 issue of The Morung Express, the release asserted that there are ‘some misinformations’ which need to be corrected.
In this connection, the release stated that the headquarters of Kiusumong Battalion, after being shifted ‘en block’ from Tuensang to Ukhrul district in 2004, was inaugurated on May 25, 2004 at T.M Kasom Village. However, because of complaints from AR, ‘alleging’ that the camp was too close to the highway, its base was shifted to Langdang village.
Again in the early part of 2005, the release stated, there were complaints from AR about the Camp at Langdang, who alleged that it was too close to the district Headquarters, and so the NSCN (IM) moved down towards the Mapithel range in the southern part of Ukhrul and settled near Marou village.
However, ‘a major stand-off situation’ took place when, the release asserted, ‘the notorious Assam Rifles’ blocked all roads to the village which lasted for almost a month. The tense situation was subsided by the intervention of the CFMG, it informed. “Subsequently, through mutual agreement, Kiusumong Battalion was made to settle at Shirui village in the middle of 2005,” the release stated.
“There too, we had to move our make shift camp three times from one place to another due to disturbances from AR on one pretext or the other,” the release stated and added that at one time, the Assam Rifles “intruded” into the NSCN (IM) camp area in October 2006. “Five of them along with arms were captured by our cadres. They were released that same evening unharmed in the spirit of Ceasefire Agreement,” the release stated.
Then, in February 2007 just a few days before the Assembly Elections, the release narrated, a firing encounter took place ‘when the AR jawans surrounded the NSCN (IM) base camp in the jungle of Shirui’.
“In spite of perpetual disturbance from AR, we had restrained ourselves to the limit so as to preserve the peaceful atmosphere. On the contrary, it was obviously a direct breach of ceasefire ground rules and we could not find a way out to avert the situation. When the soldier’s honor is trampled upon and life threatened, there can be no option but to fight back in defense,” the release maintained. It also maintained that at last, “at the request of the AR themselves suggesting that we camp openly near the village in order to avoid accidental encounters in future, we set up our camp in the vicinity of Shirui village”.
“The village authority consented to it without any objection and the concerned authorities of both sides viz: CFMG Chairman Lt. Gen Kulkarni and Convener CFMC Brig. Ph. Shimrang were informed of this arrangement to which they satisfyingly acknowledged. The only loophole was that a written document in the strict sense of legality for the establishment of a designated camp in Shirui was yet to be formally signed. Nevertheless, it was generally understood and openly accepted that Shirui was the designated Camp of Kiusumong Battalion since May 2007,” the release maintained.
“Then in May 2008, for our own convenience, we had planned to shift our camp from Shirui to Khambi village towards the Eastern Tangkhul Area. This arrangement was intimated to the DIG 10 Sector, Brig. Mendar, to which he promptly acknowledged. However, after the completion of camp construction at Khampi, the Assam Rifles begun to sing a different tune again, saying Shirui was the only area designated for Kiusumong Battalion. Therefore, though feeling cheated, we returned to our old camp in Shirui that August, maintaining congenial relationship with the locals as well as the security personnel in the area until the fateful event of the siege episode,” the release asserted. In this connection, the release stated that it is for the right thinking citizens to identify “who the real culprits are, playing the villain’s role in the unfortunate standoff at Shirui, giving troubles to the village folks and spreading fear psychosis in the area”.
“As substantiated by the facts above, the Shirui incident was neither our creation nor our intention. It was one of the series of bullying gestures of the Assam Rifles who, for reasons best known to them have always been trying to score even with us. Simply put, it was their desperate attempt to take revenge for their shameful show at Phek a few days before Shirui,” the release stated.
“In all counts, we are not responsible for whatever grudges they may have against us. For, we do not have any issue with the Assam Rifles. The plain truth is that, we are having Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India and to that effect we shall stand by the integrity of our Collective Leadership. We extent our commitment to the Assam Rifles by virtue of their position as an agent of Indian security, and in that spirit, we have been exercising restraint even when dangerously confronted. It is high time that a mere Para military force like the Assam Rifles stop overrating their significance in the Indo-Naga issue,” the release asserted.
Source: THE MORUNG EXPRESS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
No comments:
Post a Comment