Nagaland: NSCN claims recent militant killing as 'act of terrorism' by Army

Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim pays tribute to 6 soldiers who were killed by the Indian security forces on July 11, 2020. A press statement released by the MIP NSCN/GPRN reads;"July 11 will go down into history when the combined forces of Assam Rifles (AR), Indian Army and Arunachal Pradesh state police made Nginu in Longding District, Arunachal Pradesh (Wancho Region under Nagalim) as the killing field when six (6) Naga Army personnel were gunned down in a cold-blooded manner on the fabricated ground that they were planning to execute mischievous mission as claimed by the DGP of AP police. It was a well planned and coordinated act of terrorism by the Indian Security Forces (ISF) personnel. The Naga brave hearts were caught by surprise at the break of the day, overpowered from all sides. Giving them no chance to position themselves, they died fighting to the last man standing. Not satisfied with the killing, the ISF personnel crossed all decency as they displayed sadistic pleasure in exposing the mutilated bodies and shoving them like dead animals. In the battlefields, even enemy shows respect to fallen soldiers.

This is the brazen manner of the Government of India (GoI) in dealing with National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) which is in a ceasefire agreement running more than twenty-three (23) years. This is the repeat of another state-sponsored terrorism against the ceasefire party. This is the work of India, the world largest democracy which wanted to make Indo-Naga Ceasefire as the killing field to force its will on the Naga people.

After the Galwan incident in June 2020 where more than twenty (20) Indian Army personnel were killed by the Chinese PLA, this Longding killing of six Naga Army personnel by the ISF personnel may be understood to send the message across that Indian Army will not tolerate any forces who dare to come too close for comfort. It is, however, outrageous for Indian Security Forces to give vent their frustration to their humiliating encounter with Chinese PLA by targeting the Naga Army.

What is Government of India trying to gain by targeting NSCN under any slightest pretext when its hands are full confronting the Pakistanis in the Indo-Pakistan border and the Chinese in Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh?? The existence of NSCN should not be construed as a nuisance to India in any manner. And the prevailing Indo-Naga ceasefire signed between the GoI and NSCN is the standing evidence of Nagas’ goodwill towards India to live in peaceful coexistence.

Also read: Nagaland: Call for state govt stepping down on moral grounds justified, says NPF

Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1997 is for peace and political negotiation to bring permanent peace in Nagalim after mutually agreeing to accept the points of conflict taking into consideration the historical and political legitimacy of Naga movement. The signing of 3rd August 2015 Framework Agreement was a milestone in the Indo-Naga political talks. But the irony is when Government of India reneged. This is the crux of the Indo-Naga political talked which has to remain in the doldrums.

In today’s highly sensitive world it is difficult to imagine ceasefire signed for the purpose of negotiating for honourable political solution and military suppression going on side by side. Significantly, this is the manner of the Government of India in dealing with the Nagas. The suppressive nature that GoI refused to part is the root cause complicating the 23 years of Indo-Naga political talks that has achieved much but honoured very little.

NSCN is being driven to the wall after repeated provocation and aggression. The goodwill spirit of ceasefire has been stamped to the ground. Ceasefire has lost its meaning because ceasefire can only make sense where there is mutual respect. Certain electronic media going critical with malicious and insidious intent to put NSCN in bad light is considered to be a part of the Indian state sponsored media campaign against the Nagas. The truth shall, however prevail ultimately.

Today, Nagas in general and NSCN in particular mourns the death of the six sons of the soil who has made supreme sacrifices. We stand up for them with revolutionary salute. The precious lives of these promising young men have been cut short in their primetimebut they have indeed gained martyrdom in this cruel death. They have made the ultimate sacrifices at the altar of freedom and their names have been recorded in the annals of Naga’s struggle for independence. The Naga Army will ever remember them and honour them with victory because their sacrifices will not go in vain. We shall overcome come what may. Kuknalim!!

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