Tributes paid to victims of Operation Blue Bird
Justice to the victims has been denied even after 25 years: Nandita Haksar
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 10 2012: Remembering the victims of Operation Blue Bird of Assam Rifles which was launched from July 11, 1987, locals of Oinam village, Senapati District today paid rich tributes to the victims of one of the 'most brutal manslaughter' of the security forces during a commemoration function held at Oinam Cho Ground yesterday.

Many villagers were killed, several others tortured while many women were either raped or sexually harassed during the infamous Operation Blue Bird.

The commemoration function was attended by volunteers of different Naga organisations and local people.

Advocate Nandita Haksar, who is fighting the case of the incident and President of Naga Hoho, Keviletuo Kiewhuo graced the function as Chief Guest and President respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Nandita Haksar recalled how the Assam Rifles troops killed and tortured the inhabitants of the surrounding villages during the Operation Blue bird.

Surviving victims of Operation Blue Bird waiting for justice

"Many were killed and tortured, women were raped or sexually harassed and expecting mothers were forced to give birth in broad daylight in open ground amidst crowd.

Moreover, small children were left exposed to the rain on their own.

However, even after 25 years, justice is being denied to the victims", she lamented.

Nandita further recalled that it was a kind hearted Meetei named Surendra, the then SDC of Sub Division, who gave all the relevant documents exposing the black deeds of the Assam Rifles to her.

"After some days he gave the documents to me, he was killed by some unknown persons.

But the documents given by Surendra as well as other which were collected after the incident have become our strength to fight for justice and the same were submitted to the Court for trial", she said.

Unfortunately, justice remains elusive even after the final hearing conducted in Imphal in 1993, she lamented.

Since law court has failed to provide justice to the victims, the time has come for the people to raise their voices and demand justice to the victims who were either killed or suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) after the alleged torture of the Assam Rifles, she exhorted.

Chairman of Oinam Hill Village Authority, Th Ngulani told the gathering that NSCN attacked the post of Assam Rifles at Oinam Village on July 9 and took away many arms and ammunitions after killing several personnel.

In retaliation, the Assam Rifles launched their Operation Blue Bird from July 11 and started torturing, killing innocent villagers and raping, molesting and humiliating many innocent women of the surrounding area.

Moreover, two innocent children were kept hanging for about one hour from a tree by tying them with ropes.

Such brutalities, tortures and degradation of the villagers should not be left unanswered and every Naga should put their best efforts unitedly to bring justice to the victims, he said.

UNC President, L Adani said that it is not about the villagers of Oinam, Nganju, Khongdei and other villages but for all the Nagas to fight for justice which remains denied for the past 25 years.

Every Naga should join the movement for demanding justice to the victims of Operation Blue Bird.

Those present on the commemoration of ONAE REH DAH (Operation Bluebird) also spoke out strongly against denial of justice and compensation to the victims.

They also resolved to continue the struggle under the auspicious of Coordination Committee on Oinam Issue (COCOI) and appealed to all Naga organisations to join the Committee in fighting for justice.