Imphal, September 03, 2010: The Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has expressed extreme concern over the rise in violence committed against the Nagas allegedly by armed persons, who identified themselves as cadres of the KCP (MC).

NPMHR conducted a field visit to Mapao Khullen, Senapati District today to record events that occurred in the village in the evening of August 31 in which more than 30 males from the village were physically assaulted by suspected cadres of the KCP (MC) group, said NPMHR in a press release.

On interviewing the villagers, including victims, NPMHR found that at around 8.30 pm of August 31, armed individuals in combat uniform, numbering about 7-10 came to Mapao Khullen village forcing men of the village to assemble near the village bus stop.

Some men were also forcefully woken up from their homes and marched to the assembly point.

The assembled men were then ordered to assume "push-up" positions and forced to remain in the same position for more than an hour.

The armed individuals then began to interrogate the villagers to identify "police informers" in the village.

On the previous day, a combined team of IRB, Manipur Police Commandos and Assam Rifles conducted a joint combing operation in the area.

As the villagers replied that there were none or at least they did not know of anyone who was an informer, the armed individuals started assaulting the villagers.

The village Pastor M Shungkhai was kicked in the jaw, and one of the gunmen pressed his boot of one his neck .

Other villagers were also slapped and gun butted.

The armed individuals also threatened to kill one of the villagers if they did not identify police informers.

As villagers reiterated that there were no police informers in the village, the armed individuals left the village between 9.30-10 pm.

They also took away seven mobile phones, alleged the NPMHR.

The villagers were also warned that they should vacate the area within the next 4-5 days failing which they will be shot.

NPMHR is compelled to question whether this eviction warning given to the villagers is not part of the larger plot of non-tribals to grab the land of tribals in Manipur.

The incident has once again brought to light the serious criminal acts of valley based armed groups where tribal villagers are physically harmed to the extent of being killed and their rights are regularly abused, it remarked.

The response of State forces have not been encouraging at all, rather past experiences has shown that it puts villagers at higher risks.

Strongly condemning the victimization of innocent tribal villagers by valley based armed groups, the NPMHR called upon everyone to immediately refrain from such activities.

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