Dimapur: In a display of public discontent, the Highway Area Village Councils Forum (HAVCF), comprising 13 villages along the 4-lane stretch of National Highway-29, presented a memorandum to be submitted to AK Mishra, the Interlocutor for the Indo-Naga peace talks.
The memorandum raised serious concerns over the prevailing security environment, particularly the alleged misuse of designated Ceasefire Monitoring offices by underground factions.
This comes after the body announced a six-hour ‘Shutters Down’ protest on June 11. The symbolic shutdown, scheduled from 6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, aims to demand strict enforcement of Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) and immediate action against those responsible for a violent incident at Unity Village on May 23.
Addressing a press conference in Sovima, HAVCF convenor and Sovima Village Council Chairman Sebastian Zumvu reiterated that black flags would be displayed at all shops and commercial establishments within the protest area. HAVCF has appealed to like-minded villages, business communities, and urban local bodies across Nagaland to join the protest in solidarity.
In the memorandum, the HAVCF raised serious concerns over the prevailing security environment, alleging misuse of designated Ceasefire Monitoring Offices by underground factions. The memorandum highlights the May 23 incident at Unity Village, where an armed group of “some 30-odd armed cadres” of NSCN (Khango) allegedly attempted to assassinate a rival functionary, causing widespread panic among residents. Multiple perpetrators have been identified via CCTV and named in the FIR.
The HAVCF acknowledged that security forces, including the local police and Assam Rifles, had acted upon the FIR and raided the residence of the alleged mastermind. However, the accused reportedly evaded arrest by taking refuge in a designated Ceasefire Monitoring Office — locations that, as per the CFGR, law enforcement is restricted from entering.
“We would like to mention here that this is not the first time identified criminals have taken refuge in the designated Ceasefire Monitoring Offices of the various factions. And therefore, we would like to lay the following points to you to take up urgently so that the Naga public do not suffer any longer from the hands of some criminals posing as Naga political activists,” it stated.
The Forum’s memorandum called for the following urgent actions including equal application of law stating that all criminal acts must be treated as crimes under the law, regardless of political affiliations.
Their demand also stated that ceasefire norms should be enforced strictly to prevent armed movement, extortion, abduction, and other illegal activities.
The Forum demanded that designated offices be abolished, alleging they have become “safe havens for criminals” and all cadres of the factions be concentrated in their designated camps.
They sought that security forces be empowered to enter any premises, including designated offices, to arrest offenders.
Since the peace talks were declared concluded on October 31, 2019, the body said that Government of India must act to bring a logical and final resolution to the issue without further delay.
The HAVCF warned that public patience is wearing thin and maintained that continued inaction could erode trust in the peace process.
They stressed that ordinary citizens should not continue to suffer due to violations of ceasefire provisions and lack of enforcement mechanisms.
“We want to live a normal life like any other citizens of the country. We don’t want this Naga political issue to be handed over to the next generation. We want to see that this issue is settled in our lifetime,” Zumvu said as he addressed the presser.
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