Impasse ends, troops withdraw from IM camps, NWU joins ground rule chorus
IM returns seized arms, reciprocal act from AR unknown
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 24 2012: The high tension trigerred by the five days stand off between the NSCN (IM) and Assam Rifles troops have subsided with the troops withdrawing from the vicinity of the rebel camps, including Camp Hebron, under instructions from the higher authority today morning.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Colonel Tripathi, the General Staff Officer at IGAR (S) informed that the deployment of troops around the camps of the NSCN (IM) have been withdrawn as per the cease fire ground rules.

The troops have returned to base, said the officer and added that routine patrolling will go ahead as before, as laid down in the guidelines of the cease fire ground rules.

Another reliable source while speaking to The Sangai Express said that the troops were directed to withdraw from the camps and keep a distance after the guns, five in number, seized by the IM cadres from six Assam Rifles men on April 19 were returned today morning.

The source however declined to confirm or deny whether the guns seized from the IM cadres before the April 19 incident have been returned in exchange for the guns seized by the rebel group.

"It is not an issue" maintained the source.

A gate at Camp Hebron of the NSCN (IM)

The source continued that the troops have been asked not to proceed towards the camps of the NSCN (IM) according to the ground rules of the ceasefire pact.

However routine patrolling will continue, he said and added that the decision to withdraw was taken by the higher authority at Delhi.

On the demand that the AR personnel, who entered the territory at Camp Hebron, should be penalised on ground of violating the ceasefire ground rules, the source said that it is an issue for the higher authority to decide.

Meanwhile the Naga Women's Union has accused the Assam Rifles of violating the truce ground rules.

The stand of the NWU follows the statement of the Tangkhul Naga Long, which had held the Assam Rifles responsible for violating the cease fire ground rules on April 19 near Camp Hebron.

In a statement issued to the press today, NWU said that the intrusion into the territory of Camp Hebron by personnel of 29 Assam Rifles on April 19 is responsible for the present impasse.

Quoting the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, the NWU said that it 'was an aberration by the Assam Rifles' .

The situation has led to the deployment of Assam Rifles troops not just around Hebron but also in other Naga areas, alleged NWU and added that such a provocation suggests that the Government of India is intentionally violating the ceasefire ground rules.

Raising its pitch, NWU said, 'We condemn the high handedness of the army and demand the suspension Major Sukanta who was in charge of the command leading the jawans towards Hebron, knowing well the likely outcome and putting the cease fire between the NSCN and the Government of India at great risk' .

The women's body also demanded that the army stop frisking, raiding and harassing people, especially in Dimapur as well as the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The statement also condemned the alleged torture and killing of Capt Yaomi by the Assam Rifles at a time when the ceasefire is in force.