Kohima: The Konyak Union has issued a renewed and unequivocal warning to the proscribed group ULFA (I), demanding an immediate cessation of all activities within Konyak territory.
Reiterating its firm stance, the apex tribal body of the Konyak Nagas expressed deep concern over the continued presence and operations of ULFA (I) operatives in the region, despite a public appeal issued on April 27, 2021, cautioning the group against using Mon district as a hideout for abduction and extortion activities in Assam.
“The Konyak Union (KU) has been reliably informed that ULFA (I) operatives continue to remain active in the area. This blatant disregard for the Union’s earlier appeal is unacceptable, and the Konyak Union will no longer remain a mute spectator,” the KU said on Thursday.
The Union declared that it would no longer remain a mute spectator to the group’s blatant disregard for its earlier warnings and cautioned all individuals and factions involved in anti-social or disruptive acts to desist immediately, warning that the Union will not be held responsible for the consequences of any decisive action taken against such elements.
The Konyak Union also called on Indian security forces to exercise utmost restraint while conducting operations in the region. It urged authorities to refrain from harassing innocent civilians and daily wage earners based on suspicion alone, particularly when such actions appear motivated by the pursuit of promotions or rewards.
Raising concerns over the misuse of harsh legal provisions, the Union noted that many innocent citizens are being booked without proper verification, often leading to dire personal consequences.
“It is deeply concerning that, in pursuit of bail and legal redress, many individuals are compelled to sell off their ancestral lands, homes, cultivated fields, and other vital properties just to secure their release,” the union shared.
Referring to the 2021 Oting massacre, the KU reminded that the tragic incident which resulted from the negligence of armed forces, remains etched in the collective memory of the Konyak people.
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