Sep 12, 2010

Nagaland: NSCN IM  and 6 Assam Rifles Stand Off

An alleged violation of Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR) by NSCN IM on August 26 at Tizit led to one NSCN (I-M) activist killed and five arrested in a brief encounter with 6 Assam Rifles and the 164 TA (NAGA). Assam Rifles and Territorial Army jawans observed movement of armed militants near the Tizet post at Punjma colony. They asked the militants to stop but instead militants opened fire and joint security forces returned the fire in which a NSCN(IM) self styled major was killed as per media reports.

Assam Rifles charged the NSCN-IM with violating ceasefire ground rules. In a statement, the Assam Rifles said, "The faction is solely responsible for disturbing peace in the state by not observing ceasefire ground rules.  Our personnel were on routine patrol when the cadres were noticed at a camp which was not notified," the statement said. The patrol had intercepted the personnel violating the Cease Fire when they fired back resulting in the encounter. Three AK-47 rifles, one two-inch mortar, two single barrel guns, two grenades, 649 rounds of AK-47 rifle, four motor bombs, 308 rounds of .303 rifle and 21 rounds of M16 rifle were seized from the militants. NSCN IM has strongly refuted this allegation and claims that there was no necessity for the firing and it has been occupying a legitimate cease fire camp.

            Nagaland will also be setting up a counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism school, one of 20 such training schools. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, will get four such schools each, Assam, Bihar and Orissa have been given three each. These are expected to be temporary schools and not permanent structures as the school in Chhattisgarh or in the Army"s establishment in Aizwal.

SEP 2010