The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) vehemently condemns the reckless and barbaric act of the Assam Rifles today at Talui, Hoomi and Vokngayar (Hoomi) that has left two innocent civilians, namely, Rose Vashum (47 years) of Talui village and Mashunphong Zingkhai (32 years) of Hoomi Village in critical conditions.
The statement issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL stated that ‘at around 9:15 AM on Saturday, women volunteers at Hoomi Vokngayar had halted down two vehicles (Bolero Jeep and Van) carrying 8 Assam Rifles cadres along the Ukhrul-Tadubi road. Owing to the sensitive ongoing situation in the District, the women volunteers had enquired the cadres to show their identification cards. They were detained for the time being while waiting for the Working Committee of the TNL to reach the spot for further verification to ascertain the facts of the incident and to verify the identity of the Assam Rifle cadres. Due necessary verification and documentation was being carried out and one of the vehicles had already been given passage when around 1:00 PM, a Casspir vehicle belonging to the Assam Rifles accompanied by other vehicles came towards Talui.
“The womenfolk of Talui had formed a civil barricade at the village entrance but the Casspir truck drove past the civil barricade with a complete disregard for human life, forcing the women to run helter-skelter for their lives. In the incident, Rose Vashum of Talui village received fatal injuries on her head. At the moment, she remains semi-conscious and in critical condition and has been referred to Imphal for advanced medical care.
“Following this, the Assam Rifles drove towards Hoomi Vokngayar where they were met by another group of women volunteers at the intersection leading towards Hoomi and Kachai village. Here, the Assam Rifles resorted to firing to disperse the crowd before barraging through the crowd again. towards Hoomi Vokngayar. During the firing, Mashunphong Zingkhai (32 years) of Hoomi village sustained a bullet wound on the side of his head and is currently being operated upon.
“However, half a kilometre before reaching Hoomi Vokngayar, news of both the vehicles and all the Assam Rifles cadres being allowed to pass had been facilitated and the entourage returned to Ukhrul.
“The insensitivity in which the Assam Rifles have conducted themselves at a time such as this speaks volumes about their real intentions of destabilising Naga inhabited areas. They have failed gravely to understand the sentiments of the people who they proclaim they protect and have instead instilled more terror and fear into the hearts of the local people. At a time when Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts are embroiled in ethnic conflict, it had been made clear to them that any movements from their part should be pre-informed to the CSOs to prevent any misunderstanding. However, time and again, the Assam Rifles have betrayed the trust of the locals to a point where the very mention of their names and the very sight of their cadres and vehicles bring doubts and suspicions in the minds of the Tangkhul Nagas.
“The Working Committee of the TNL thus reiterates again to the Assam Rifles that there shall be no reckless movement within the jurisdiction of the Tangkhul Nagas without prior information to the competent CSOS.
“The Working Committee of the TNL also demands the Assam Rifles to immediately take criminal action against the commander and personnel for the reckless attempt on life of civilians and the fatal injuries of the two civilians.
“The Tangkhul Nagas have, for too long, tolerated the atrocities meted down by the Indian security forces under the shadow of the draconian AFSPA. Our patience has worn thin and we will not sit by idly and allow more of such atrocities to happen in our land” added the statement issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL.
Rose Vashum has been referred to RIMS Imphal for further medical treatment. Mashunphong Zingkhai is being treated at District Hospital Ukhrul.
