Organizations flay Assam Rifles raids

Various organizations have condemned the raids carried out by Assam Rifles personnel.
TBAN, DVC: Tangkhul Baptist Association, Nagaland (TBAN) has condemned raid carried out by 27 Assam Rifles personnel at the residence of Rev. Judson Rungsung, pastor of Tangkhul Baptist Church, Darogajan and the “high-handed acts” on September 15 at around 3.30 a.m. In a press note, TBAN secretary Rev. Rozarim Woleng said that the AR personnel under the command of one “Major A.P. Singh” raided the house without any warrant. Despite searching the house for about an hour, not a single incriminating object was found, TBAN stated.
TBAN said when Churches under the shepherding roles of the pastors have been leading the people in praying for the Government of India, for the Nagas and for a lasting and peaceful solution, such unwarranted raid was a great insult to our people and the Church.
TBAN further reminded AR that the “practice of Christianity and the role of a Pastor are not illegal in a country like India”.
DVC: Darogajan Village Council (DVC) said it strongly condemned the “high-handed and insulting acts of the Assam Rifles for their unwarranted raid” on the family of Rev. Judson Rungsung, pastor of Tangkhul Baptist Church, Darogajan
In a press release, DVC chairman Vitokhu Achumi said during the raid, which took about an hour, nothing illegal or incriminating was found at the pastor’s residence.
At a time when Government of India, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has entered a stage with the Nagas to find a peaceful solution and the people praying for it, DVC said it did not find any logic behind the act.
DVC said it was not only a great insult on the pastor, nor on a particular tribe but the people, the Church and all those living in Darogajan Village.
“To put it in another word, is this not an act that insults even the Indian Government for which the claim they are serving? Does such act define a sane person?” DVC asked.
DVC further said it was unexpected on the part of the security personnel who call themselves, “Friends of the hill people” to misinterpret their motto in such ways.
KSTD: Khar Senso Telongjem Dimapur (KSTD) has condemned the “arbitrary” and “unlawful” acts of security forces, who raided the residence of one of its bonafide member at Lingrijan, Dimapur on September 12 wee hours.
In a release, KSTD president, Aowati and general secretary, Nokdang said on that fateful night when the house owner, a government employee was attending to a sick relative in Nikos hospital, security forces with “deadly weapons” forced his innocent wife and minor children to undergo “torturous” and nightmarish experience.
KSTD said no any incriminating or illegal articles were recovered. However, when the owner rushed to his place on being informed of the ordeal, he was ordered to append his signature under duress, without being informed on the content of the writings.
The signatories said the act of security forces has reflected the inadequacies and insensitivity of the security forces in following procedural law. While it accepted that security forces were empowered under AFPSA to conduct search of any premises or person with reasonable suspicious, it was also imperative that proper legal procedure has to be followed so that no innocent were subjected to undue harassment, KSTD added.