TNL petitions Guv for withdrawal of security forces from Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 15 2014: Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex Tangkhul civil body has apprised the Governor of Manipur to revoke the CrPC 144 clamped in Ukhrul town and immediately withdraw the security forces deployed in the town.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor Monday, TNL said that on July 12 one Mr..MNgalangzar, Member, Autonomous District Council was shot dead at Finch Corner, about 22 km away from Ukhrul district headquarter, by unidentified individuals.

Following this, on July 13, 2014, at around 4 AM, Manipur police commandos and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) from Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Imphal, bypassing the district authorities of Ukhrul raided and ransacked the office of the Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR), a public liaison office of the NSCN (IM).

Further, 8 cadres of the NSCN (IM) were arrested.

The same day, July 13, 2014, at around 7 am, Section 144 CrPC was imposed in and around Ukhrul district Headquarters on the purported excuse of "apprehension of nuisance and disturbance of public tranquillity in Ukhrul Headquarter due to the killing of Mr..MNgalangzar, Member of Autonomous District Council".

Hundreds of Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel were deployed all over Ukhrul district Headquarter creating a warlike situation and an environment in which the safety and security of the civilians was highly threatened, the TNL alleged.

TNL further said that on July 13, 2014, at around 3 PM a submission was made to the Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul, for immediate withdrawal of S.144 Cr.

.PC as the very fact of promulgating Section 144 CrPC and the deployment of Manipur police commandos and IRB was fomenting and creating the very situation of preventing nuisance and disturbance of public tranquillity.

However, it is yet to be revoked.

"Hon'ble Sir, as you are aware, the Indo-Naga peace talks have been going on for the last 17 years.

The ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) has brought peace for the Naga people.

However, the communal Government of Manipur (GOM) has, at every level and every occasion, intensely opposed and done everything in its power to deny the Nagas their right to live a peaceful dignified life.

The decisions and actions of the GOM clearly show that it is highly communal, anti-peace, and violate the rights of the people," the Tangkhul apex body's memorandum to the Governor stated.

The present situation in Ukhrul is a creation of the communal government of Manipur and not of the people.

We are compelled to conclude, given the communal history of the actions of government of Manipur, that its actions are nothing but an attempt to derail the Indo-Naga peace process.

Hon'ble Sir, we would like to impress upon your good office that the WTR office was set up in Ukhrul with the purpose of improving public relations and strengthening peace and improving dispensation of justice among the Tangkhul Naga people.

Therefore the raid on the WTR office, aside from being highly provocative, is a direct attempt to deny the Tangkhul Naga people their quest for peace and justice.

It also violates the ceasefire agreement between the government of India and NSCN (IM) .

In view of all these serious development, we on behalf of the Tangkhul Naga people, demand: That Section 144, CrPC.

be immediately revoked as its promulgation defeats the very logic for its application.

That the Manipur police commandos and IRB currently deployed in Ukhrul district headquarters be withdrawn immediately, it demanded.

TNL also demanded that the arrested cadres be released without any condition and the properties and documents seized from the WTR office immediately returned and the status quo of the WTR be restored.

"These demands should be addressed within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of the memorandum failing which we will be compelled to take democratic civil actions.

Hon'ble Sir, the Tangkhul Naga people stand united in our commitment to peace and justice; we firmly believe that these can be achieved only through the respect for our rights, identity, and history.

We reaffirm our support and commitment to the on going Indo-Naga peace process.

However, we are also determined that we will do everything within our means to democratically safeguard and uphold our rights," it stated.

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