Crisis in Nagaland (1).

The Mon tragedy leaves several unanswered questions. 

The demand to repeal AFSPA has gained momentum post the unfortunate killing of six civilians in Mon district of Nagaland. However, there are several questions that need to be answered if one has to establish the real cause and events leading to the unfortunate killings. It has been three days since fifteen lives were lost in Oting area of Mon district on the unfortunate evening of 04 Dec. The government immediately sprang into action with a high level Special Investigation Team (SIT) and set up a team led by a senior Inspector General of Police Limasunep Jamir. Union Home MinisterAmit Shah issued a statement in the Parliament and Indian Army has also appointed a high-level Court of Inquiry led by a senior Major General to ascertain the events leading to the unfortunate incident.

While we have no options but to wait for the outcome of these inquiries, a widespread agitation has engulfed entire Nagaland where mob has started attacking the posts of Assam Rifles, a force which was not at all involved in the incident and has been working in Northeast India for over 100 years. Hidden in the agitation is the demand of repulsion of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) by various stake holders of the society and government.

There are serious questions on the entire sequence of events. Firstly, are specialised operatives of Special Forces supposed to carry out routine checking in a disturbed area? Secondly, what was the intelligence and how was it corroborated? Thirdly, how the entire operation was carried out? Fourthly, why local police did not reach at the spot even after 3-4 hours of the incident?

While the SIT has been given a deadline to submit its report within a month, Army Court of Inquiries are generally fast and it is assumed that they will also complete their investigation within this time frame only and it is unjust on the part of everyone to react lawlessly till the facts are revealed. In the pursuit to explain the sequence of events, everyone is coming out with a different theory but no one is ready to explain why so many insurgent groups have been allowed to operate in the state? Why government has been lingering for the so-called peace talks for over 25 years and why all politicians irrespective of their party, line up in support of unlawful elements so helplessly?

Nagaland has been a hotbed of insurgency ever since India got independence in 1947. Various groups have been active for over three decades till government of India signed Suspension of Operations with one of the leading groups in 1997. Since it was not possible for the insurgents undergrounds (as they are told in the local language) to carry out armed actions, they have changed their way of operation and are mainly resorting to extortion, robberies, kidnappings, drug business, influencing political and keeping the government involved in so called peace talks. Everything moves around the huge flow of money.

The groups are also facilitating and helping other insurgent groups of Northeast India and Naxalites of Central India with training, selling weapons and other type of logistics to get more money. The entire system is rolling over the money made by the leaders of these so-called groups.There is so much money involved that severe infighting started among the group members in the last two decades and while there used to be one main insurgent organisation in Nagaland till 1988, there are more than a dozen now. Each one of them claiming to have their own government ruling over Nagaland, own so called Naga Army and a structure of government officials and ministers. Imagine a state having so many governments issuing ;etters, orders and instructions to the people. Anyone not falling in line is punished severely so public has no option. That is why it is said about Nagaland that the local people are suffering because of the "Perils of recognising too many governments".

The entire fiasco of Mon-Nagaland was not only unfortunate but has opened another plethora of demands. While we must wait for the inquiries to get over to know the truth and provide justice to the departed souls, political echelons in the state are speaking of the repulsion of the AFSPA with even the Chief Minister himself advocating it now. This is the most important aspect of the entire event. Imagine a state where more than a dozen insurgent groups are operating freely and the politicians are demanding its repulsion every now and then. We must understand the reason behind it and that who will be the ultimate beneficiary if the AFSPA is removed from the state? Here are my five points.

........to be contd.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Suma kunjamma was to reach by teatime in the evening but called up after lunch, to say that she would be coming by either tomorrow or the day after.

Mithun from the National Supermarket came by with the grocery. Tomatoes have become costly @ Rs.108/- per kg! He'd a hearty laugh at my PJ, when I suggested to Lekha about buying 10 kg of tomatoes to keep it in  the bank vault.