IMPHAL, Feb 17: The Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) in a press release today stated that the Government of India has surrendered Tirap district to both factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) which have been engaged in armed conflicts since November 2010.
On February, 14, 2010, a gun battle took place between the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) factions at Khonsa village just outskirts of district headquarters. Stray bullet reached at the campus of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Girls School. Later, the armed groups forced the whole market area to shut down and government establishment to close its offices. Government employees posted there ran away from the district and even schools, colleges and markets have been closed as fear psychosis gripped the district. Khonsa, the district headquarter of Tirap, is now completely under the total control of the cadres of the NSCN factions, maintained the release.
It pointed out that Villagers are not allowed to move out of their villages and their mobile phones have been seized. Moreover no Villagers can even venture out to atten their new jhum lands. It said the people in apprehension that the restriction will cause severe food shortage and hunger as people are being prevented from doing the only cultivation of the year which has started now.
About 10,000 people have been reportedly displaced. The condition of the women and children are deplorable and the State government of Aruanchal Pradesh and the Union of India have not extended any assistance to the displaced, it said.
`This is nothing but the government surrendering entire Tirap district at the hands of the insurgent groups.` stated Dr. Ashan Riddi, General of PPA.
The PAA demands that the cease-fire agreements between the Government of India and both factions of the NSCN must be strictly complied with. The cease-fire agreement must not be interpreted as a license to violate the rights of people in other parts of the country.
In the meantime, The PAA condemned the silence of the State government of Arunachal Pradesh and the Union of India and urged to fulfil their constitutional obligation to safeguard the right to life, liberty and dignity which has been completely violated in Tirap district.
