Dimapur, November 23 (MExN): Wanching village has summarily dismissed the justification given by the NSCN-K following the atrocity meted out to the village’s leaders and elders recently by cadres of the underground outfit.
Responding to the NSCN-K’s claims as published in a local daily on the 14th, a hurt Wanching Village council today issued a strong response dismissing the outfit’s justification as futile, frantic and untruthful effort to cover up inhuman treatment meted out to innocent village elders. The council made plain clear that no NSCN-IM cadres were present or visited the village as alleged by the rival faction. Rather, the village has neither enmity nor play favorites towards any group/faction or any other groups.
The council narrated the events of the fateful day: NSCN-K cadres reached the village before dusk and demanded a sum of Rs. 20, 000, fifty kilograms of rice and ten chickens. Some cadres even went to the extent of asking for opium and wine. The council stated that opium is not found in the village. After having their full, the “so called quarter master” one “capt.” Anok summoned the village council chairman and other elders. The council also mentioned that the cadres were camped in three places. One group was led by one “col” Peyong Khanmoi, another by one “capt.” Wanglon Konyak and the third was led by on “capt.” Anok from Arunachal. The village elders led by the chairman stopped at the house where the so-called “col” Peyong Khanmoi and his group was camping but being told so they proceeded towards the house where “capt.” Anok and his group was camping.
On reaching the elders were queried of their designation. Then the elders’ hands were tied behind their backs and thrashed with bamboo and gun butts in a closed house from 9 pm till 11pm. No questions were asked nor were any reasons given by the underground cadres for the torture meted out to the innocent village elders. After nearly two hours of beating, the victims were released but not before making the elders comply with the demand of the UGs to bring Rs. 20,000 by 6:30am, the next morning.
The next day, all the victims were taken to Mon for medical treatment. Also, only after the matter was brought to the notice of the underground outfit’s higher-ups, did “Col.” Peyong Khanmoi and his group was “believed to have realized their mistake and are even said to have apologized.”
“Despite this, it is very unfortunate that handful of men have the face to write such lies trying to cover their inhumane treatment. One should know that gun do not make lies, truth” the village pointed out. No NSCN-IM cadres visited the village and the question of the villagers facilitating the rival cadres’ escape does not arise at all, the village stated. “That night no fighting, chasing or killing took place apart from the beating of village elders. This beating of elders without any reason is itself a totally unacceptable and inhumane act. It is also not just a violation of human rights but also an insult to the Konyak culture” a hurt Wanching reminded. Stating that the justification of the NSCN-K on the matter has only added salt to the wound, the village has strongly demanded that the culprits are booked and forwarded to the village.
