TNL refutes reports; civil bodies demand ATCF's intervention
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, May 02 2015 :
Strongly reacting to the news reports in some local dailies on May 1 pertaining to the April 30 Gwaltabi incident, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has said that it is imperative to clarify the situation in light of the finding of its lightening survey on the incident.
This was disclosed to media persons during a hurriedly convened press briefing by TNL president Weapon Zimik at his office Saturday evening.
He said that as per the survey conducted by TNL on May 1, it was found that the violent situation started at the point when some Gwaltabi residents shouted racial slurs on ATCF volunteers who were returning home at around 6 pm from their duty on the April 30, 24-hour bandh called by ATCF to protest existing anomalies in MGNREGA implementation in the hills.
Refuting the reports that 20/30 houses have been damaged, Zimik pointed out that only a total of 10 houses were partly damaged and no properties were stolen as reported in media.
He further clarified that the houses had faced the ire of the neighboring villagers as the locals failed to respond when they tried to rescue the 6 ATCF volunteers who were whisked away after beaten black and blue by Gwaltabi villagers.
He further rued that shockingly the six volunteers were finally found in police custody, while alleging that the police demanded Rs 5000 each for bailing out the six volunteers.
Meanwhile, a coordination meeting of TNL, ANSAM, 4 Longphang., TKS and TSL held today at TNL Office unanimously resolved to demand rapid intervention of ATCF in the present crisis to settle it amicably, while also informing all of their proposed indefinite economic blockade along the national highways in the event of failing to contain the present situation by way of peaceful settlement.