United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Women’s Union (NWU) have expressed strong condemnations over the alleged killing of one Lamdan Lukham and blatant firing upon unarmed civilians, seriously injuring six of them by the Indian Army on Saturday.
A joint statement issued by the three bodies demanded that all the victims should be compensated satisfactorily and accordingly and that all the culprits involved in the firing and act of brutalities be booked and punished according to the law of the land.
“We are aghast at the reported horrible incident which took place on May 16 at Pumao village, Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh,” it said alleging “instead of finding peaceful solution in the meeting convened following the kidnapping and torture of Nokchai Wangsu and Jempho Wangpan, the 19th Sikh regiment provoked and started firing indiscriminately upon the villagers.”
“Taking advantage of the situation, Lamdan Lukham was mercilessly shot dead and six more civilians were also injured seriously by the Indian Army,” it further alleged.
The release termed it very unfortunate that such killing, brutalities and human rights violation has become too rampant in the cease fire areas when Naga peace talks for finding enduring peace in the region is in advanced stage. “Excessive and unchecked use of military might by the Indian security forces towards the Naga people has been reported several times to Indian authorities. Yet, instead of correcting the Indian Army who shows no respect to human rights issues, the government of India continues to decorate and glorify them. Such insensitivity on the part of Indian Army and government of India will have far-reaching adverse consequences in building up relationship with the Naga people,” added the release.
It contended that the Assam Rifles and Indian Army have been creating extreme climate of fear and terror among the local civilian populace with imminent possibility of resuming armed confrontation.
The statement also contended that the Naga populace is not spared even at these trying times while fighting the pandemic which has claimed the lives of lakhs of people across the globe. Such an act is a total negation to the agreed ceasefire ground rules and a cross violation of international human rights, it said and urged the negotiating parties on Naga political issues to finalise and reach an amicable political settlement based on the unique history of the Nagas and situation at the earliest so that such unwanted incidences will not reoccur in future.
