The National Socialist Council of Nagaland has issued a corrigendum to rectify their claims made earlier this week that the Indian security had killed two of its members.
In a corrigendum issued on March 23, the NSCN said that of the two, one was an office-bearer of the NSCN while the other was a civilian.
“It is hereby rectified that the two men shot dead by the Indian security forces at Kolagaon in Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh on the 20th March, 2022 are Corporal Khunnyak Bangsia of NSCN and a civilian Mr. Raato Kakho of Kolagaon and not as rendered in the previous Press Statement dated the 22nd March, 2022 which stated that two (2) NSCN members were killed. One was an NSCN member and the other one was a civilian,” the NSCN said in a release.
On March 21, it was reported that two suspected insurgents of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) were killed, while one was injured in an anti-militancy operation by security forces in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.
However, the locals had insisted since Sunday that Retto Kakho, one of the persons killed, and Pakngam Lowang, the injured person, were civilians and had no association with the banned outfit.
“Kakho is a former panchayat leader of Old Kolagaon village and a public leader. He has no association with NSCN and neither does Lowang,” a resident had told EastMojo.
The All Tirap District Students’ Union (ATDSU) general secretary Priyang Pumoh said according to the family members of the deceased, Khako and Lowang were forcefully picked up by the NSCN-IM to act as local guides for them.
“They were forced to lead the way for the insurgents and they had no other option other than to oblige at gunpoint. One of them, unfortunately, got killed in the process, while the other is under treatment at a hospital in Assam,” Pumoh said.
Condemning the incident, a 12-hour bandh was also enforced in the Tirap district by the ATDSU and other students organizations on Monday, while massive protest rallies were held in Khonsa and Deomali.
The protests were also joined by members of All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union and the North East Students’ Organization.
Pumoh said a 4-point memorandum seeking compensation for Kakho’s family, education assistance for his children, etc., was also submitted to the Assam Rifles CO on Monday.
Meanwhile, Assam Rifles officials, in reply to the claims of Kakho and Lowang being civilians, said the matter is under investigation.
“If they were civilians, then why were they moving with the armed group in the middle of the jungle? Normally, the ones who help the insurgents are considered as overground workers. We shall, however, wait for the inquiry report before making any comments,” he said.