Imphal/Dimapur, June 01 (NNN): The cold war between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM is gradually turning uglier with one party accusing the other of issuing unwarranted diktats against the other followed by series of public outburst in Ukhrul district of Manipur.

Based on the speculations doing the round that the Assam Rifles had served the NSCN-IM deadline to close their camp in a village in Ukhrul by tomorrow (June 2) or else the Assam Rifles would start �shooting� the UG cadres, investigation was conducted by the media.

In Dimapur NSCN-IM deputy Home Minister V Horam told Newmai News Network this afternoon that the diktats of the Assam Rifles were true.

Horam categorically stated that the Assam Rifles had no business in the affairs of the NSCN-IM as they (NSCN-IM) have been in Ukhrul district following the cease-fire with the Government of India.

The NSCN-IM leader said that his cadres were strictly obeying ceasefire ground rules but the Assam Rifles in the name of maintaining law and order had been meting out unnecessary harassments to the NSCN-IM cadres and the general public.

Illustrating his point Horam said in 2003 when the Manipur police commandos had arrested NSCN-IM leaders including it's Home Minister AK Lungalang near Kangpokpi, the then Union Home Minister LK Advani had directed the Manipur Government to release all the arrested leaders and were subsequently released�.

The Assam Rifles cannot threaten us just like that and we are not going to get cowed down by such threats�, quipped the NSCN-IM leader.

On the other hand, the Assam Rifles authority in Imphal told Newmai News Network this evening that the speculations were not correct.

Lt Col SD Goswami who is the Public Relation Officer of the Assam Rifles said that the Assam Rifles, on learning that the NSCN-IM cadres were trying to set camp at Marou village in Ukhrul district, had only asked the NSCN-IM cadres not to make any camp at the village.Goswami said that there were no such things as giving deadline or issuing diktat to the NSCN-IM cadres.

The officer also said that he had contacted to the Assam Rifles Inspector General to confirm but there were no sort of thing and dismissed the whole thing as just a speculations.

Meanwhile, various social organisations in Ukhrul district have alleged that rampant harassments meted out by the Assam Rifles on the public have been going on in Ukhrul district.

Tangkhul Long, Tangkhul Sinao Long, TNWL, TMNL, Tangkhul Katamnao Long and TSL in a release made available to NNN today, have stated that about 200 Assam Rifles personnel have been camping at a village called Marou under Phungyar sub-division for the last two weeks or so for unknown reason.

The release said that lots of harassments and humiliations had been incurred on the people�free movements of the general public were restricted, cases of torturing rising and the villagers were fleeing from their homesteads.

The release specifically pointed out that one old man identified as AS Pamlei of Marou village was threatened to shoot by the Assam Rifles personnel without any reason.

Three youths identified as Ng Elija, Ng Thotreingam and Lovejoy were slapped by the Assam Rifles personnel, said the release adding Lovejoy is a Govt employee in the veterinary department.

This is the examinations time but everything has been under halt, said the release adding that teachers and students had fled from the area in fear.

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