Call for strengthening brotherhood & peace

Four more bodies identified
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 5: Relatives of Mongal Singh (24), Sunil Rongphi (18), Dhoni Rongphi (24) and Rajib Ingti (25), hung around the Dimapur Civil Hospital morgue on Sunday evening watching the decomposed bodies being wrapped up and prepared for the coffin. The four were identified from among the nine bodies that the Nagaland Police (Dimapur) recovered from a stream in Pachaspura, Chumukedima, in a highly decomposed state. The families, all from Upper Deopani in Bokajan sub division of Assam, came to Dimapur on January 5 (Sunday) accompanied by civil society from Karbi Anglong; they could identify the deceased from what was left of their loved ones—some hair, toe, shirt.

“They used to work together in Kohima as labourers,” said one of the relatives, who had been at the morgue in Dimapur all day, “too hungry, too tired,” by the end of it. “The four could not come home for Christmas as they were not paid, so they were coming home for the new year on December 28. They even called on the day to say that they have left Kohima but soon afterwards their phones were switched off; and they disappeared,” he continued. A labourer in the background, at the morgue, started screaming about not being paid for packing the decomposed bodies. In shock, no one knew how to respond to the bureaucracy of death.

Two more families with missing persons from central Karbi Anglong will attempt to identify from four of the remaining bodies on Monday.

Since December 27 last year, almost 2000 people in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council have been displaced from their homes when violence erupted as a fall out of hostilities between the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) and the Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force (RNHPF). Civilians from both the communities, Karbi and Rengma, have faced the brunt of this. The killing of nine persons, whose bodies were found with their hands tied behind their back, piled on top of each other in Pachaspura, is seen as an attempt to further “sensitize” the tense atmosphere. On Saturday, a case of “indiscriminate shooting” in Bokajan led to the death of one, though it is yet unclear if these incidents are connected.  

“It is clear that third forces are operational to take advantage of the situation and sensitize it through these recent killings,” maintained a member of the Karbi Anglong Peace Forum. But “third forces” could be many and finding evidence or pointing to them particularly could jeopardize both the civil society and the peace dialogue underway between the Karbi and Rengma communities.

Thus, while in the “interest of peace and reconciliation,” “an invisible third force” is good to talk about and speculate of, it is the “first and second force,” that is, the communities and people involved in the violence that need to sit down and talk to each other to clarify matters. “If the brotherhood between the communities was strong enough, people from either side would not partake in attacking each other. It is this (brotherhood) that needs to be strengthened,” asserted an activist from Karbi Anglong, whose family members fell prey to the first round of violence on December 27.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Government of Nagaland to probe the killing of the nine persons, had its first meeting on Sunday. It discussed, among other issues, the process of investigation and motive for the murder, Additional SP of Dimapur and a member of the SIT, Watichuchang Jamir informed. While the Government of Nagaland has also set up a High Power Enquiry Committee to probe into the killings, Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, has expressed a desire to ask the Centre to set up a CBI enquiry into the matter.

Assam has also intensified security in and around Bokajan area in Karbi Anglong. "A total of 17 companies of additional forces have been deployed in Bokajan and other troubled areas along the Assam-Nagaland border," said Assam Commissioner (Home) G.D. Tripathy. Night curfew, imposed in the Bokajan since Saturday night, continued Sunday.
With inputs from agencies

 

 

The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur has appealed to the public and NGOs to maintain peace and extend necessary help to the district administration and the police to curb any violent incidents. A press note from Dimapur DC, N Hushili Sema requested the public “not to spread any false rumors of killings, identity of victims or perpetrators without ascertaining the facts.” It added that any information of armed groups/criminals, especially along the areas bordering Assam, may be intimated to the DC, Dimapur; SP, Dimapur or the Police Thana.

 

 

 

One person was arrested on Sunday in connection with the death of one Desoi Rengma in Karagaon, Bokajan sub-division of Karbi Anglong on January 5. Assam police identified the arrested as one Zakato Choby of Zunheboto district. Police informed that the accused was picked up along with four others at the Karagaon general area, under Khatkati police station, during a police operation conducted in the wee hours of Sunday. Out of the five picked up at Karagaon, one was released on the spot after interrogation, and the other four were brought to Khatkati police station. After further interrogation, three were released and the accused was arrested, police stated. Stating that further investigation is on, Assam police said that it cannot be ascertained whether the arrested was the main accused in the January 4 shooting.

 

 

DIPHU: The Karbi Anglong Peace Forum (KAPF), in pursuance of a resolution taken at its meeting on January 5 in Diphu, has notified that a relief cell has been formed and that “they are the only persons authorized by KAPF for relief work/duty.” A press note from the KAPF informed that the names of the two persons in-charge are Bijoy Teron (09435067012) and Matthew Engleng (09678933124). It informed people willing to contribute or provide relief materials to the affected people to contact the aforementioned persons only.

The KAPF, while expressing shock over the recovery of the nine bodies, has affirmed its commitment for peace at any cost. While expressing anguish over what it termed as the “unfortunate and unnecessary killings and arson,” a press note from the KAPF called upon the “KPLT and NRHPF to immediately stop all confrontation with each other.” It also urged the public of both the Karbi and Rengma communities to condemn all violence, and to instill among themselves feelings of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence of all tribes and communities. The KAPF also appreciated the Naga Hoho, the Nagaland state government, the Dimapur district administration, and the Angami Students Union (ASU) for “their timely help and assurance to provide security to the Karbi communities in Kohima, Dimapur, and elsewhere in Nagaland.”