Liangmai organisations in Northeast India have accused the Assam Rifles of arresting three "innocent" villagers and implicating them as NSCN-IM cadres. The Liangmai organisations clarified that the three persons arrested by the Assam Rifles are farmers, and not insurgents.
The Liangmai Naga Council, Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ), Eastern Liangmai Naga Chief/Chairman Association, Manipur and Langka (Taniulong) Village Authority, in a joint press release on Friday, said that they strongly condemned the “act of 22 Assam Rifles, Jwalamukhi, IGAR - (East) for arresting three innocent villagers of Lanka village, under Sapermeina police station in Kangpokpi district”.
According to the organisations, the three “innocent villagers” are Mairikinang Abonmai (50 years), s/o late Khiuchamdinang Abonmai, Maithon Malangmai (50 years), s/o late Chahotjinang Malangmai and Siraibou Malangmai (28 years), s/o Khangchiusanang Malangmai. They were arrested while working in their farms, according to the Liangmai bodies. “The Assam Rifles personnel planted a country made arms to implicate the three farmers as NSCN-IM cadres on February 3, 2022,” the Liangmai organisations further alleged.
According to the press statement of the Liangmai organisations, this “criminal act of Assam Rifles” is not an isolated one. They said that there are innumerable incidents where many innocent lives have been taken by Assam Rifles with full of impunity.
“The Assam Rifles is known for its notoriety and expertise in killing of innocent civilians in Northeast India. The recent cold blooded murder of 14 innocent civilians at Oting village under Mon district, Nagaland is one such incident. Such criminal acts committed by Assam Rifles over innocent civilians should be condemned in the strongest term by all peace loving people in the state,” the Liangmai organisations asserted.
While appealing the Government of India to repeal the “infamous” Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, from Manipur, the Liangmai bodies demanded the concerned authorities in the state to immediately release the “three innocent villagers” who have been taken away by the 22 Assam Rifles on February 3, 2022 and hand over to their families safely. Failing which the Liangmai bodies warned that they would resort to strong forms of agitation to release the innocent villagers”.
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