Robin Hoods - Unleashed

By Robert Lanky *

Robin Hood robs John (Rich) to help Peter (Poor). In today's scenario any person or any organization that promises a solution to social evil assumes this philanthropic image.

So is the case with the present National Socialist Council of Nagaland. Society had been fed up with ongoing fratricidal killings and its collateral damage to the social system of beautiful Nagaland. This has been echoed time and again in the form of public uproar, initiative by churches, GB & DB association and NGOs in the past. On many occasions Football matches and "Let My People Go" (Reconciliation Meets) have been organized to reconcile both the factions for continued maintenance of peace in the state – a distant dream of the Nagas.

Peace in the state or any promise made by the "Robin Hoods" must reach its culmination because it is no longer good to cry peace - we must act peace, live peace and live in peace. Now in present scenario, the questions which come to mind are, against whom & for whom are these self styled Robin Hoods working? These Robin Hoods of the state; NSCN (IM) & NSCN(K), have been promising for a peaceful solution and have settled for cease fire in 1997 & in 2001 respectively.

Cease fire has been negotiated and extended with GOI by both groups a number of times so far. But under the shadow of cease fire, a number of violations of ceasefire have been done. Incidents of Inter-factional killings and clashes have increased substantially in numbers. If one goes by the data published by different sources (like MHA, SATP & News Agencies) there has been a quantum jump in the graph of every year. National dailies have also published these under the headlines "NE surpasses J&K in terms of militancy/ insurgency related deaths".

Today, new Robin Hoods have emerged on the scene un-reigned by their organizations and are unleashing terror while their Big Bosses are living abroad and enjoying their life, without paying any heed to the voices of the common man. Two major incidents which have taken place in the past i.e 2007-08 and in year 2009 can be aptly regarded as most heinous acts.

In December 2006, in Senapati district, two boys Hirine Hubert and Muheni Martin were kidnapped and kept captive for 104 days until one day on 27th Mar 2007 their dead bodies were found in a badly decomposed state on a hill lock. These two innocent kids of class III, of Don Bosco School Maroam were kidnapped for ransom. The families of the two boys had reportedly paid a sum of Rs 5 lakhs to the kidnappers to secure the release of their children but all went in vain. In condemnation of the gruesome act, various social organizations had also come out strongly protesting against the killing.

When the needle of suspicion pointed towards NSCN (IM), the senior functionaries bluntly denied it. Paradoxically, the top functionaries of NSCN(IM) admitted that the heinous crimes was carried out by its cadres when public uproar and pressures were put on them. At that time the Deputy Kilonser of MIP, Kaibo Chawang, admitted that the three persons responsible for the killing are in their custody viz Monikho, Brown Tangkhul and Adai (who had partially confessed).

Second and more recent incident involving the abduction and killing of SDO of Kasom Khullen, Late Dr Th Kishan and his two staff members. Initially the Kilo Kilonser MIP NSCN (IM) refuted that their cadres were not involved in the heinous and brutal killing. But later on 25th Feb they agreed that one SS Lieutenant Colonel H Ningshen (who was also responsible for Siruhi stand-off with AR as Battalion Commander) was the brain behind the killings in his own capacity. They also distanced themselves from such barbaric acts carried out by black sheeps of the organization. The Battalion Commander justified this barbaric act on two counts : the SDO was functioning from his residence (and not from his office) and that he was not discharging his duties properly. Do these reasons justify the killing that too in the most barbaric way? Can any upright official discharge his duties when there is threat to his life for not towing their line; extortion/demand notes notwithstanding.

Killing of these three government officials have rocked the State and the Centre as well. The question was raised during the Parliament session about the ongoing ceasefire between NSCN and GOI and horrendous acts of NSCN(IM). The Chief Minister of Manipur demanded that the MHA should instruct CEASE FIRE MONITORING GROUP to tell NSCN (IM) to handover the killers to the law enforcing authorities of the state. The NSCN (IM) reportedly has instituted a high level enquiry but what punishment will be awarded to the killers is a big question. The criminals, they added, will be tried under the 'Naga Army Law'. Does GOI recognize the Naga Army Law? or the law of the Land?

The Hebron Camp which is the CHQ of the GPRN/NSCN is located about 40km south of Dimapur. All important civil functionaries of the group based there seem to have closed their eyes on the activities carried out by their errant cadres in both the states of Nagaland and Manipur. An interview with the Press by Kilo Kilonser, Mr Keditsu Tsuzuh, at Hebron Camp was published on Mar 01 by one of the English daily where in the Kilonser stated "Why should we hand over Ningshen to Manipur Govt ? They are demanding what is not possible!" He further appealled to the Meitei community not to bring in communal aspects into the issue. He maintained that SS Lt Col H Ningshen had killed Dr Kishan without the official sanction of the NSCN (IM) a paradox!

On the question about branding NSCN as terrorist organization, the Kilonser reacted and tried to justify the acts of all his 'Robin Hoods' and audaciously asserted that there is no way that the GOI can bow down to the demands to brand NSCN as terrorist group. He was axiomatic that Indian leaders are no fools; politicians will come and go. Many an Indian Prime Ministers and Home Ministers have come and gone and know what binds the ceasefire agreement between GOI and NSCN. He expected that Mr P Chidambaram will also respect the decision of his predecessors. He further appealed that the Nagas should not make wild guesses and at the same time the Meiteis should understand the reality between the NSCN & GOI and should discard monocracy. In essence, the NSCN (IM) is feeling the heat and the under currents between the Nagas and the Meiteis.

There have been many incidents in the past where "Ready to Kill" cadres have committed many acts which would ordinarily be termed as organized crime committed by criminals but no actions have been taken by NSCN. And, if at all any action was taken it was never publicished. In the current situation, it is analyzed that; if at all NSCN-IM wants to adhere and continue for the hard earned Indo-Naga peace talks and ceasefire process to surge ahead, the NSCN(IM) must make a sincere and firm commitment not to abrogate the CFGR and take expeditious steps to reign in the so-called SS Robin Hoods, stop abduction, extortion, killing and illegal tax collections. The NSCN (IM) as an organization should accept accountability for any act(s) or omission(s) done by its cadres; black sheeps notwithstanding. In the name of 'God & Humanity' and for peace and tranquility in the State, NSCN (IM) would do a yeoman service to the Nagas and the society by putting an end to such Frankenstein Monsters.