Tamenglong slaps Rs 90 lakh fine on armed groups
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05 2012:
Coming out strongly against the killing of a carpenter in a gunfight between cadres of rival Naga armed groups on October 2 at Tamenglong district headquarters, the public, in an unprecedented move, have asked the armed groups to pay Rs 90 lakhs as fine to the victim's family.
This is perhaps the first time that villagers have decided to impose fines on armed outfits for causing deaths of civilians.
Jakailung Gangmei (48) was herding his two children, who were playing at the ground model village school, to safety when a stray bullet hit him, killing him on the spot.
Sources said the clash was between NSCN-IM and a combined team of NSCN (K) and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) .
A public meeting convened at Tamenglong district headquarters yesterday resolved that Rs 50 lakh should be paid by NSCN (IM) and Rs 20 lakh each by NSCN (K) and ZUF as fine to the victim's family, local sources said.
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During the meeting Gangmei's body was placed before the gathering as a token of protest and later in the evening its last rites were performed, sources said while suspecting strongly that Gangmei was killed by NSCN (IM) as two of its cadres were seen standing close to the body on that day.
Zeliangrong-dominated Tamenglong has witnessed frequent clashes between Naga rival groups claiming the lives of not only the cadres but also civilians.
This has prompted the disgruntled public and civil bodies to raise strong voice against the bloody incidents.
Soon after the latest clash on Tuesday, the irate public urged all underground cadres living in the district headquarters to immediately leave the town.
The United Naga Council ( UNC) , while expressing deep concern over what it termed as 'violent exchange between political groups', said recurrence of violence particularly in populated areas has come as a rude shock and has caused widespread insecurity and panic among the civil populace of the area.
It said the movement for reconciliation among the Naga political groups initiated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has been making much progress with the blessings and endorsements of the Naga people.
"Side by side the negotiation on the Naga political issue is said to have reached an advanced stage.
Therefore we fervently appeal to the parties concerned to discard confrontationist positions and to make use of the space for dialogue and communication as violence will only complicate and aggravate the situation," the apex Naga body of the state, said.