School students participating in the public rally on March 12 at Jalukie town.
Memorandum submitted to Governor
Jalukie, March 12 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Student Union, Nagaland (ZSUN) on Friday demanded an ‘unconditional release’ of the two persons who were allegedly abducted by the GPRN/NSCN on March 2.
In a memorandum submitted to the State Governor R N Ravi after a public rally held at Jalukie Town on March 12, the ZSUN demanded that “The abducted persons should be released unconditionally forthwith.”
It further sought financial compensation from the government for the “illegal confinement of the three persons and hardships caused to the families,” adding that there has not been any tangible action on the part of the State administration so far.
The ZSUN in its memorandum submitted through the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jalukie, noted the sequence of events which led to the ‘abduction’ of the three persons by the GPRN/NSCN.
On March 2, the two men hired an auto rickshaw and were on the way to Lamhainamdi Village, to clear the jungle and to construct a house for a lady.
“The three of them (including the auto driver) were abducted by the cadres of NSCN (U) and taken to their designated camp at Khehoi,” the Union stated.
The next day, Lamhainamdi Village Council lodged FIR in the Police Station, Jalukie, it added.
On March 3, the GPRN/NSCN reportedly ‘summoned’ the President of Zeliang Baudi (N) “under the seal and signature of Col. Oponthung for negotiation of the crime…”
The ZSUN said that the trio was ‘falsely implicated’ with being caught red-handed while cutting teak plantation.
The request made by families of the captives for their release was reportedly ‘turned down’.
On March 9, the auto driver was released through their Auto Driver Union’s intervention, the ZSUN stated.
Highlighting its grievances to the Governor, the Union said that the GPRN/NSCN cadres are being “allowed to run a parallel government as they are defying the existing law enforcement mechanism…”
The cadres have committed physical and mental torture on innocent daily wage earners and subjected the families to great miseries and violated human rights, it asserted. It further took exception to summoning an apex body of a tribe for negotiation for a theft case and termed it as “an act of intimidation and browbeating with mala fide intention.”
CSOs of Peren District on March 6 requested the Chairman, Ceasefire Supervisory Board through the Deputy Commissioner, Peren to intervene and secure release of the captives, citing the act as “a clear case of violation of ceasefire ground rules by NSCN (U).” But the Union did not receive any response, it added.
Accordingly, the public rally was held on March 12 and memorandum was submitted to the Governor.
For failing to meet their demands within 48 hours starting from 12 noon of March 12, the Union said that it reserves the right to launch the next phase of protest.
“…Thereafter for any eventuality, we shall not be held responsible,” the Union cautioned.
