KKL alleges harassment of civilians by 8 AR
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, July 23 2024: Kamjong Katamnao Long (KKL) has urged the district administration to take necessary actions over alleged harassment of local residents by 8 Assam Rifles stationed at Nampisha outpost, Nampisha (Ramphoi) under Kamjong sub-division of Kamjong district on July 20 .

In an appeal to the Kamjong deputy commissioner on Tuesday, KKL president Ngamrei Jajo, general secretary Shanmi Kaphudang and action convener Sochipem Keishing requested the district administration to look into the matter and take necessary prompt actions so that such incidents do not recur in future.

The appeal letter mentioned that one Mashun Chithung (35), son of Thomson Chithung of Kamjong headquarters, originally from Kangpat Khullen village had drowned in the Maklang River at Kangpat Khullen village around 8 pm on the night of July 19."At around 6:58 pm on July 20, when a team led by KKL, the student body of Kamjong headquarters, was returning to Kamjong from Maklang River after a search and rescue operation to trace the drowned man, the AR personnel stationed at Nampisha outpost detained us for nearly 30 minutes," it alleged.

The student leaders mentioned that on July 20 they were traveling in a Shaktiman truck (MND 182) and had reported the matter at the Nampisha (Ramphoi) outpost checkpoint earlier that morning.

There were nine civilians in the vehicle, all residents of Kamjong, who were returning from an unsuccessful search and rescue operation for the missing individual, they stated.

"Despite repeated requests to pass through the checkpoint, as we had previously reportedthe incident, the personnel of AR detained us without justification," they contended.

They added that the personnel harassed them by taking unwarranted photographs with mobile handsets and searched the vehicle, even though they were all physically exhausted, hungry and drenched in rain water after a daylong search for the body in a river.

According to the KKL leaders, the AR, which is often lauded as 'Friends of The Hill People', is treating innocent local civilians without respect, like criminals or outlaws.

Student leaders, while acknowledging the AR's role in safeguarding national security, expressed deep concern over the unprofessional conduct of the personnel.

They contended that such behaviour poses a serious threat to all peace-loving citizens of the country, and added that if left unchecked, the same would force them to resort to measures like boycotting the AR in their area and escalating the matter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.

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