KSO-GHQ on Old Samtal incident
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 08 2014:
Following the IED blast and the eventual eviction of two families of Old Samtal village in Chandel district bordering Myanmar, the Kuki Students Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) met the CO of 28 Sector Assam Rifles, on September 2 at Kakching.
As the Assam Rifles claimed that the eviction of the two families were not their doing, the KSO GHQ executives journeyed to Old Samtal on September 3 to find out the truth behind the whole gamut of claims and counter claims.
According to the KSO-GHQ, the fact finding executive team met the villagers and the chief; the executives of KSO Khengjoy Block; the area chiefs' association; and the new post commander of Assam Rifles at Old Samtal.
On inquiry it has been established that the two families were out of anger ordered to leave the village by the former Old Samtal Assam Rifles post commander, who was transferred after the incident.
The KSO takes strong exception of the conduct of the former post commander which led to the eviction of the two families to a village across the border at Khampat Ward No.4 in Myanmar.
In the backdrop of this incident, the KSO said it is determined to strongly condemn the IED blast at the Old Samtal AR post which was perpetrated at the behest of the UNLF.
The IED attack was anti-national and also anti-Kuki society to have planted IED deliberately right at the heart of the village knowing what the consequences would be, and wished the injured Assam Rifles jawans a speedy recovery.
The man who triggered the blast, Jamkholun and Letkholal were reportedly in the payroll of the underground outfit and have to suffer the consequence of their action as per the law of the land.
The villagers of Old Samtal also expressed to the visiting KSO team that, they felt really unfortunate of the incident and felt ashamed of themselves as the perpetrator happened to be one amongst the villagers and wished the innocent families to come back, the apex Kuki students' body said.
The KSO also appreciated the conduct of Assam Rifles personnel who had shown restrain in their handlings of the villagers of Old Samtal.
No case of torture or any form of severity was evident.
The Kuki people understand that it was because of the Assam Rifles that some semblance of peace is in existence in Khengjoy area.
However, the stupidity of the former post commander in banishing the two families of the two persons involved in the blast is something uncalled for and unpardonable.
The Assam Rifles authority must dispense befitting punishment for his extra constitutional conduct.
No one, except the village chief and his council, has the right and the authority to banish the villagers, the KSO added.
In the meeting with the Assam Rifles at Old Samtal, also attended by the area chiefs, the Assam Rifles has taken due cognizance of the issue and assured to create conducive environment for the two families to return to the village.
It was found that the AR had already sent feelers to Khampat to bring the two families back.
However the effort seems to prove futile till now.
The KSO has also sent emissaries to the two families who have expressed their desire to come back.
The inability of the families to return home must have been because of the presence of some restrictions, the KSO-GHQ stated.
The KSO appeals to all the entities involved in the incident not to create any hindrances for the families to return home at the soonest time possible as the families have suffered enough.
Comment
