Dimapur, September 3 (MExN): The NPMHR (South) today said it is “extremely concerned” by the rise in violence committed against Nagas “by valley based” armed underground groups. The NPMHR referred to an incident in August when militants of KCP (MC) group assaulted and threatened villagers of Mapao Khullen. The villagers were also warned to vacate the area in days or be shot.
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights undertook a field visit to Mapao Khullen, Senapati district on September 3, 2010 to check events in the village on the evening of 31st August. On August 31, more than 30 males from the village were physically assaulted by suspected cadres of the KCP (MC) group.
On interviewing the villagers, including victims, NPMHR found that on the evening on that evening, around 8.30 PM, armed individuals in combat uniforms numbering about 7-10 came to Mapao Khullen village. The militants forced men of the village to assemble near the village’s bus stop. Some men were also forcefully woken up from their homes and marched to the assembly point. The assembled men were then ordered to assume “push-up” positions, in which they remained for more than an hour. The armed individuals then began to interrogate the villagers to identify “police informers” in the village.
The NPMHR mentioned that the previous day, on 30th August, state forces comprised of Indian Reserved Battalion, Manipur Police Commandos and Assam Rifles had conducted a joint combing operation in the area. The villagers replied to the militants saying that there were none, or at least they did not know of anyone who was an informer. The KCP (M) armed cadres started assaulting the villagers. “The village Pastor M. Shungkhai was kicked in the jaw, and stood over with his neck pressed down under the boot of one of the armed individuals. Other villagers were also slapped and hit with guns,” the NPMHR said.
“The armed individuals also threatened to kill one of the villagers if they did not identify police informers. On villagers continued reiteration that there were no police informers in the village, the armed individuals left the village between 9.30-10.00 PM. They also took away 7 (seven) mobile phones.”
The NPMHR also said the village was warned that they should vacate the area within the next 4-5 days failing which they will be shot. “The NPMHR is compelled to question whether this eviction warning given to the villagers is not part of the larger plot of non-tribal to grab the land of tribal in Manipur,” the organization said.
The incident, the NPMHR stated, has once again brought to light the serious criminal acts of valley-based armed groups where tribal villagers are physically harmed to the extent of being killed and their rights are regularly abused.
“The response of state forces have not been encouraging at all, rather past experiences has shown that it puts villagers at higher risks. NPMHR strongly condemn the victimization of innocent tribal villagers by valley based armed groups and call upon everyone concerned to immediately refrain from such activities. NPMHR also call upon all concerned to ensure the safety and well being of villagers.”
