WNYF and DAYO officials during a press conference held in Jal Mahal Hotel in Dimapur on December 18. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 18
The Western Naga Youth Front (WNYF) and the Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) on Thursday raised serious concerns over recent incidents of alleged abduction, firing, and misuse of Ceasefire ground rules.
Addressing the media at Jal Mahal Hotel in Dimapur, the convener of WNYF Aga Rengma informed that six individuals were allegedly abducted from their residences at around 11:00 pm on December 15 last at Aoyimkum village.
Rengma asserted that such acts of alleged abduction, firing, and misuse of Ceasefire ground rules would not be tolerated and cautioned that if such incidents continue, a confrontation than between youths and Naga Political Groups (NPGs) may become inevitable.
He added that the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) chairman had failed to deliver action to the defaulters, after the assurance given by the chairman in October 2024 of no further violation of the ceasefire rules.
To make his point, Rengma urged the CFSB chairman to take action immediately as per his assurance given in the past, adding that failure to do so may compel the youth to take their own course of action which will be aggressive in nature.
Likewise, DAYO President, (Retd.) Major Boktiba Jamir, in his address, said that the organisations never wanted the situation to escalate into tribal lines and clarified that they were not against any particular tribe. “As Nagas, we stand united,” he said, confirming that six individuals were abducted by a group.
Jamir questioned whether the government, administration, or Ceasefire authorities had given any group the authority to abduct individuals, while terming the December 15 act illegal.
Furthermore, he informed that a ransom of INR 50 lakh was demanded, though the abducted persons were later released after the initiation by the civil society organisations. He also reported that one of the victims sustained bullet injuries to his finger and buttock.
At the same time, DAYO Vice President and Convener Grievance Cell I Abenjang stated that this was not the first such incident, and questioned whether kidnapping or abduction or firing was permitted under Ceasefire ground rules.
If such actions allowed, Abenjang stated, there must be clarity on whether they align with the Indian Constitution or NPG’s rule.
During the question hour, clarification was sought regarding claims of a fake call centre and denial of abduction in press statement by the NSCN-K (Khango-Vusshe), Abenjang responded that their “main concern was the manner in which armed individuals entered houses at night, fired gunshots, and abducted people.”
When asked about the alleged fake call centre operation as claim by the group, Boktiba Jamir maintained that investigation should be carried-out by the concerned authorities, stating that they were neither an investigating agency nor in a position to pass judgment without proof.
Further, Aga Rengma clarified that the organisations were raising their voices against rampant ransom demands and abduction, stating that demanding INR 50 lakh was unacceptable.
While stating that any group working genuinely for society should be supported, Rengma stressed that taking the law into one’s own hands and promoting gun culture cannot be appreciated and must end.
