Ukhrul, Aug 14 2009: Coming out strongly against the August 12 shoot-out, several Ukhrul based civil society organisations like the TNL, TKS, TSL, TMNL, HKL, RKL, YRC and THYSO have decided to impose self-curfew in Ukhrul district tomorrow.

As such, no civilian will be attending the Independence Day celebration here.

The civil organisations' self-curfew is against violation of ceasefire between NSCN (IM) and Govt of India and the alleged custodial killing at Shakok.

Contending that the shoot-out was a fake en-counter, thousands of people took out a protest march carrying the corpse of the NSCN (IM)'s Sgt Solomon Hungyo from TNL ground till the Ukhrul Deputy Commissioners office at about 2 pm today.

In the course of the protest march, the protestors carried banners which read Assam Rifles are the killer of hill people.

The protestors then submitted an eight point memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

Some of the principal points listed in the memorandum included demand for clarification whether there is a ceasefire in Naga areas outside Nagaland, suspension of the ongoing operations by AR in Ukhrul, withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Ukhrul district and ensuring safety and well being of the population of Shakok area.

Turning back from the DC office, the protestors again converged at TNL ground where they laid down the corpse of the NSCN (IM) cadre.

Incidentally, the TNL ground has been the usual venue for Independence Day celebrations in Ukhrul district Hqs.

Talking to this correspondent, a TKS functionary said that the corpse of Sgt Solomon Hungyo (26) s/o Arei Hungyo of Chahong Khullen village would be kept at the TNL ground till tomorrow to show the perpetrators that they have killed peace in a staged managed encounter.

Saying that public vociferously condemn such barbaric killing, he demanded that justice should be done at the earliest.

According to the civil organisations, the incident of August 11 could have been averted had it been tackled by a responsible commandant as there was no provocation from the other side.

The sergeant was first apprehended and later done to death in a fake encounter.

The deceased was later dressed in combat fatigue.

Even as the corpse bore deep cut on the head, there was no mark of any gun shot on the outer combat uniform.

However, there was visible bullet marks on his inner T-shirt and the banyan, they asserted.

Claiming that they have all the hard evidence to prove that the killing was a pure case of fake encounter, the civil organisations maintained that they would not be cowed down until and unless the treacherous security personnel learn their folly and refrain from repeating such fatal blunders in future.

When contact, the AR post commander of Ukhrul town refused to make any comment saying that he is not permitted to anything on the matter.

Even as this correspondent went all the way to Shakok, about 64 kms away from district Hqs, for spot verification, CO of 23 AR Shangshak, Col Bhogal prohibited entry of media persons.

In between Phalang and Shakok, Col Bhogal sternly asked media persons to stay away from the areas.

Asked about the incident, the Colonel refused to make any comment saying that he could not say anything at the moment although he was operation commander of the incident.

At the end, all attempts to elicit the ARs version of the incident drew blank.

However, one witness, on condition of anonymity, said that the IM cadre was heard shouting that he was an IM Chaplin (Pastor) when he was apprehended by AR troops.

Though he was without any arms, the AR troops whisked him away and later it was heard that he was killed in a shoot-out, the alleged witness disclosed.

Meanwhile, corpse of another IM cadre, Sgt AS Phanitphang (30) s/o AS Shangvai of Chingjaroi found at Laushing village, 8 km from Shakok, believed to have been killed in the August 11 shoot-out has been brought to Ukhrul.

The second corpse has also been kept at TNL hall.

Comment