TVC decries friskingby security forces

Thilixu Village Council (TVC) has expressed strong concern over what it described as “weeklong excessive frisking” by security forces at all entry and exit points of the village, pointing out that the exercise has caused immense hardship and unwarranted psychological and mental harassment to innocent civilians.
TVC alluded frisking by security forces to the presence of NSCN (Khango-Vusshe) faction which has established a ceasefire office inside the village.
In a press release, TVC chairman Vitoho Y. Zhimomi and secretary Kahuto Ahumi, expressed surprise that even students in uniform were being continuously frisked by security personnel, causing psychological trauma.
TVC also alleged that seriously ill patients on their way for treatment were detained for frisking, while even government officials and working professionals, despite producing valid ID cards, were also not spared from the checking.
TVC reminded that NSCN/GPRN (Khango-Vusshe) had entered into a ceasefire agreement as a separate entity with the Government of India and, after proper consultation, the village council had issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the establishment of ceasefire office within the village jurisdiction.
Since its establishment, TVC maintained that NSCN (Khango-Vusshe) and the local residents have co-existed peacefully. However, it alleged that security forces continue to use the presence of the ceasefire office as a pretext to carry out frisking and harass the public on a regular basis.
Keeping in mind the safety and security of the public, the council, however, said that random frisking and checking of every movement have created an atmosphere of fear, tension, and inconvenience. Therefore, TVC fervently appealed to the concerned authorities to minimise and take utmost measures and avoid unwarranted deployment of security forces in civilian areas.
The council said that such excessive and arbitrary frisking of civilians would only erode public trust in the security forces.
While urging security personnel to maintain proper protocol and display professionalism in their conduct, TVC cautioned that failing to do so, would compelled them to resort to democratic forms of protest to safeguard the rights and dignity of innocent citizens.