Strong reactions have poured in from civil society organisations over the December 15 abduction incident at Aoyimkum village, condemning the use of force in a civilian area and warning against parallel policing by armed groups.
NCD: Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), a conglomeration of 20 Naga tribes, has strongly condemned the alleged raid and abduction carried out by armed miscreants at Aoyimkum village on December 15.
In a press release, NCD president GK Rengma and general secretary LK Peter Anal stated that the incident of firing in a peaceful civilian area with the intent to create fear was no less than terrorism.
NCD affirmed “unequivocal support” to Dimapur Ao Youth Organization (DAYO) in its demand for justice. The council appealed to all Naga armed groups to refrain from violence, intimation and other acts that create fear in the minds of people.
Denouncing the forcible entry into a private residence, indiscriminate firing from automatic weapons, and abduction of individuals, NCD called it a blatant violation of the law.
The council pointed out that inter-factional violence among Naga brothers had drastically reduced to nil over the past two decades. However, NCD warned that such heinous acts could trigger repercussions similar to earlier conflicts.
NCD has, therefore, called upon the state government, law enforcement agencies and police to contain the activities of miscreants, protect lives and properties of citizens and ensure peace and harmony in Dimapur.
CNCCI: The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has strongly condemned the abduction of six Naga individuals at Aoyimkum on December 15, during which firearms were allegedly used and fired in a civilian-populated area over accusations of operating a “fake call centre”.
In a press release, CNCCI said the firearms, procured using public money, were meant to protect the Naga people and not to be used against civilians on mere allegations. It questioned what was “anti-national” about Naga citizens engaging in business activities, asserting that any suspected illegality should be reported to competent statutory authorities of the State government for proper investigation and prosecution.
CNCCI maintained that matters involving crime or alleged illegal activities must be dealt with strictly by lawful agencies and not by armed groups claiming to operate in the name of Naga nationhood.
CNCCI also questioned whether Nagaland police were discharging their constitutional responsibilities or abdicating them in favour of Naga Political Groups. It urged the police to undertake serious introspection, stating that deploying resources mainly for multiple mobile checkpoints and routine traffic checks often led to public harassment and perceived as avenues for money collection. The confederation said law enforcement agencies must instead prioritise addressing serious crimes that threaten public safety and the rule of law.
CNCCI stated that Nagas have never mandated the existence of multiple factions, nor have they authorised any group to indulge in moral or parallel policing. It maintained that the mandate given to NPGs was to pursue political struggle on behalf of the Nagas and not to instil fear, cause suffering, or perpetrate injustice against their own citizens. The chamber cautioned that the Naga public would not accept coercion or intimidation being carried out in the name of Naga freedom.
CNCCI also questioned whether the state government was allowing the proliferation of NPGs at the cost of continued public suffering. It further sought to know whether the existence of multiple factions was being tacitly tolerated for administrative convenience.
The confederation challenged the state government to be transparent and place before the public the concrete steps taken to bring the various Naga political groups together and reduce the burden on ordinary citizens.
Reminding that Nagaland is an electoral democracy, CNCCI asserted that the government is duty-bound to respond, act and remain accountable to the people, and cannot function as a kingdom, fiefdom or totalitarian authority.
CNCCI demanded an immediate, swift and thorough investigation into the incident and called for all those responsible to be booked without fear or favour, irrespective of affiliation. It maintained that abducting one’s own people in the name of representation or struggle is profoundly anti-Naga and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
WSH: Western Sümi Hoho (WSH) Saturday expressed serious concern over the December 15 incident at Ao Yimkum, where it said six youth were apprehended by a faction on allegations of running a fake call centre.
WSH through its media cell said that unlawful activities, if any, must not be condoned. The hoho, however, maintained that no group or individual should take the law into their own hands. WSH stressed that the matter should be thoroughly investigated by the competent authorities, adding that those found guilty must be punished strictly as per the law.
At a time when people were preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, WSH said such incidents involving Naga brothers were unfortunate and must be avoided. WSH has appealed for restraint, peace and unity among all.
Further, WSH emphasised that the issue should be resolved with understanding, dialogue, and reconciliation among brothers, upholding the spirit of harmony and mutual respect that binds Naga society together.