Calls arrest of village chairman ‘intelligence failure’
Mon, April 28 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) on Tuesday strongly condemned a joint operation conducted by the 20 Assam Rifles and the 166 Territorial Army at Namthai Village in Mon District on the midnight of April 22, terming the arrest of a village council chairman an outcome of “complete intelligence failure.”
The Union clarified that Shaopa Konyak, who has been serving as the Village Council Chairman of Namthai Village, is “an innocent and responsible public leader” committed to the welfare, development, and peaceful coexistence of the village.
‘Unwarranted arrest’
“Any attempt to implicate or target such a respected individual reflects a grave lapse and serious failure on the part of the intelligence agencies involved,” the Union said in a statement signed by President K Yamao Konyak and General Secretary Wango Konyak.
The Konyak Union denounced the “unwarranted arrest of an innocent public leader, terming it a consequence of complete intelligence failure and lack of proper verification.”
The Union questioned the role and accountability of the Nagaland Police and the 42nd Assam Rifles stationed in Naginimora and Mon for their apparent lack of prior knowledge of such an operation conducted within their jurisdiction.
“If such actions are carried out by taking advantage of the AFSPA Act without adhering to basic legal procedures and coordination, it raises serious concerns about the relevance and effectiveness of their presence in the district,” the Union stated.
Caution against repeat of Oting tragedy
Expressing deep concern over a growing trust deficit between civilians and security forces, particularly in the Naginimora–Namthai–Tiru–Tizit belt, the Union stated that such incidents continue to create fear, confusion, and insecurity among the civilians.”
It said, “Such reckless and miscalculated operations have the potential to trigger another tragic incident like the Oting incident, where 14 innocent Konyak youths lost their lives—an irreparable loss that the Konyak community continues to mourn.”
ULFA-I claims ‘baseless’
The Konyak Union also flatly refuted a press statement issued by security forces on April 25 claiming the arrest of three cadres of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I) during a counter-insurgency operation in Mon District.
The Union firmly stated that no ULFA-I groups operate within Mon District, calling any attempt to associate the district with such activities “baseless and unacceptable.”
Based on “reliable information,” the Union clarified that the three individuals reportedly entered the Mon District with the intention of surrendering before the Assam Police but had mistakenly crossed into Mon District due to navigational confusion.
The Union reiterated its demand for accountability, transparency and responsible conduct from all security agencies operating in the region, and cautioned authorities against making unverified claims that it said tarnish the image of the district and its people.
