ENPO, ENSF condemn August 8 assault incident in Pungro

DIMAPUR — The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) have condemned the Aug. 8 “brutal and unprovoked assault’ on two rival cadres by the town commander of the NSCN (IM) and his accomplices in Pungro town.

In a joint press statement, the two organisations stated that the two victims from the Yimkhiung community—Sangtikiu and Ati of the Kitovi-led GPRN/NSCN—were beaten with rifle butts and canes, all while being held at gunpoint.

“Such violence is not only a gross violation of human rights and hence intolerable. Any disagreements or issues, irrespective of their nature, should be addressed or settled through dialogue and peaceful means rather than resorting to physical assault.

“The manner in which this incident transpired reflects a total disregard for the principles of peace, justice and respect for human dignity and value. It underscores a growing trend of aggressive and unjustified actions that threaten the peace and stability of our communities,” the organisations said.

The ENPO and ENSF also stated that it has come to their attention that ‘Capt.’ Jangkhen of the NSCN (IM) was also earlier involved in intimidating student leaders, individuals and business establishments.

“This violent incident and the recent threats by Capt. Jangkhen are in clear violation of the ENPO resolution dated December 18, 2007. This resolution explicitly denounces bloodshed, threats, intimidation, and violence within the ENPO jurisdiction.

“The resolution reflects our yearning for collective commitment to resolving conflicts through peaceful and non-violent means, upholding the principles of justice and mutual respect, and fostering a harmonious and cohesive community,” the two organisations affirmed.

Pointing out that the actions of the perpetrators and those involved in intimidating others are in direct contradiction to the ENPO resolution, the two organisations insisted that such actions should be unequivocally condemned and those responsible be held accountable for their conduct.

“In light of these developments, the ENPO and ENSF call for immediate action to address and rectify what went wrong. We urge the concerned authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the case to ensure that justice is served,” the statement added.