Ukhrul rallies against AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, December 17 2021:
The Tangkhul community on Friday took out a mass public rally to join the Nagas' demands for immediate with- drawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from all Naga areas.
The rally began from two different points-Dungrei junction and Kharasom junction at Ukhrul and later converged at Ukhrul headquarters ground, Wino Bazar for a public meeting.
The meeting deliberated on the cruelty of AFSPA, 1958 under which the military allegedly oppressed and subjugated the Nagas on the pretext of combating insurgencies.
The meeting also vehemently condemned the massacre at Oting in Naga-land's Mon district where 14 civilians were gunned down by the Indian Army.
|
The participants of the meeting were also reminded of the alleged atrocities committed upon the Nagas by the Indian Army such as the infamous 1987 Bluebird operation at Oinam, the 1994 Mokokchung incident and the Oting massacre, among others.
The rallyists shouted slogans like "Repeal AFSPA", "Nagas are not terrorist," "Justice for Oting victims," "Reveal the truth", "AFSPA is anti-humanitarian," "Indian Army go back" etc.
NSF vice president Atokiho Sumi, UNC secretary Milan, NWU president Asha Wungnam, TNL president David Kaahung and TSL president Veronica Zingkhai were some of the prominent figures who attended the meeting.
Later, ANSAM president Wanglar Thiirtung read out the memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that demands immediate repeal of AFSPA, 1958 from Naga areas and justice for Oting victims.
The gathering also observed silence for a minute to pay respect to the victims of Oting 'massacre' .
The rally was jointly organised by ANSAM, TKS and Tangkhul CSOs under the aegis of NSF.