'IM' leader Anthony remains only last year's Valentine
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, February 14 2013:
On this day a year ago, the Tangkhul civil societies staged a memorable "Valentine's dharna" at Gandhi Chowk in Ukhrul demanding release of NSCN (IM) leader Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, who has been detained in high-wall Tihar prison.
However, this year, that common cry for his safe release has remained silent.
Is Anthony, head of NSCN (IM) foreign affairs, now forgotten? Where are those familiar cries for his safe release? Are those voices now lost in the din of hopelessness or speculation of imminent Naga solution? These are few questions doing the rounds now among the concerned Nagas.
Last year, Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM) kicked off a drive demanding release of NSCN (IM) from Tihar jail.
The movement was picked up by Tangkhul civil societies and a series of campaigns including mass rally, sit-in protest, poster and postcard campaign were launched in Ukhrul.
However, those "voices" for his safe release died down as the year closed in 2012 .
This time, a "love" expressed on February 14 last year seems to have lost among those civil societies that once made the loudest cry.
Anthony remains only last year's Valentine.
Are the Naga civil societies bogged down by result-less campaigns? One wonders on the astute silence among the voices could have been fuelled by the intensity of cases heaped upon Anthony.
Or, are they disheartened by looming reality that more than dozen of NSCN (IM) top cadres are under the radar of NIA? .
On September 27, 2010, Anthony was arrested from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan international airport in Nepal and has been detained in Tihar jail facing charges of waging war against the Indian state and procuring arms.
His case was further intensified with charges from the 1980s.
Incidentally, NSCN (IM) Brig Absalom Raman was arrested by Indian intelligence agencies from Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani train at Guwahati in December 17 last year.
He was arriving Dimapur from New Delhi reportedly after meeting Naga group leaders Isak Chisi Swu and Th.Muivah.
There are now speculations who could be the next in NSCN (IM) power hierarchy to be arrested by Government of India.
On December 14 last, 11 high ranking brass of the Naga group was summoned by NIA�which the former party did not respond.
NIA is reportedly exerting pressure on the Naga group to comply with their summons.
The next schedule for summon, however, has not been made official.