DIMAPUR (Newmai News Network), April 22: The stand-off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM completed four days today with no sign of easing the tension.
According to a well-placed source, the main problem at the moment between the Assam Rifles and the Naga outfit which has kept afloat the present quagmire concerns the weapons in their respective custody seized from the other.
The Assam Rifles demanded that the service weapons confiscated by the NSCN-IM from the five Assam Rifles personnel near camp Hebron be returned while the Naga outfit retorted that it would only reciprocate after the weapons seized from the Naga militants in the last few days by Assam Rifles are returned.
However, the same source disclosed to Newmai News Network tonight that the matter is being discussed now “at the higher level” in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM alleged today that one `captain` of the Naga outfit had died after the Assam Rifles tortured him in Arunachal Pradesh. The NSCN-IM `captain` has been identified one Yaomi, from Ukhrul district of Manipur.
Taking serious note of the incident, the NSCN-IM said tonight that the ceasefire violation and human rights violation in the hands of the “notorious” Assam Rifles is happening not only in Nagaland but elsewhere also.
“On April one Capt.Yaomi of NSCN was picked up by the personnel of the 19 AR from the jungle in Holom village in Tirap district and tortured to death and his lifeless body dumped in Khonsa district Hospital.
Yaomi was not feeling well and was on the way to move out from the village when the Assam Rifles troops caught him from a jungle hut (Khola). He was without any weapons on his body. There is nothing to doubt that the case was purely a custodial death,” alleged the NSCN-IM.
The NSCN-IM captain`s body was brought to Dimapur with the help of the villagers of Holom and after conducting condolence service the body was sent off to his native village at Tanrui in Ukhrul.
“Members from NSCN and others from the civil societies paid rich tribute to him.
Capt Yaomi who was posthumously given the rank of major died in a far off region of Nagalim in Arunachal Pradesh in the hands of 19 Assam Rifles and he remained committed to the cause he had avowed to defend till his last breath”, the NSCN-IM`s condolence message said before adding, “Certainly, major Yaomi`s name will be recorded and given a place of honour in the Naga history for the service rendered for the Naga nation. May his soul rest in peace and may God comfort his family members at such hour of grieve and sorrow,” it further said.
