NSCN-Assam Rifles Siroy impasse resolved

DPR/UkL, January 24 : The six-day long stand-off between the NSCN-IM and the Assam Rifles at Siroy in Ukhrul district has been resolved amicably this afternoon, according to NSCN-IM's Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) source.

However, it has not been ascertained whether the Assam Rifles personnel cordoning the NSCN-IM camp have left the area or not. The Siroy stand off and the resultant tension was also discussed thoroughly by the SPF Cabinet during a meeting today.

However details of what were discussed were not disclosed to the media for obvious unstated.

AR men on the alert with the IM camp seen in the background and women praying for peace

Confirming that the matter has been resolved, Assam Rifles spokesman Major Shamser Jung in a statement said, 'The NSCN (IM) request for safe passage to their ranks has been considered and the issue is being resolved amicably in the interest of peace and tranquility in the area' .

The spokesman however reiterated that the movement of NSCN (IM) cadres either in uniform or with arms will not be permitted.

'Provision of safe passage has been accepted as a one time measure in the interest of peace and tranquility and will not accepted again'.

Recalling the genesis of the stand off, the spokesman said that while the NSCN (IM) was attempting to set up a camp near the vicinity of Siroy village early this month, they (AR) received information and the troops rushed there and cordoned off the area on January 19 .

Asserting that the IM group has been trying to set up new camps, the statement said that in 2007 they tried to establish a camp in Siroy which was evicted and destroyed.

Recently the IM group tried to establish a new camp at Khumbi near Phungyar which was removed and the camp destroyed, claimed the spokesman.

There are three camps of the NSCN (IM) which has been 'Taken Note Of,' said the statement and named them as Bonning in Senapati district, Oklong in Tamenglong district and Phungchong in Chandel district.

On the other hand, NSCN-IM's MIP source informed NNN this evening that the Union Home Ministry has directed both the 'hostile parties' to vacate the area.

However, the NSCN-IM termed it as 'mutual withdrawal' as directed by the Union Home Ministry.

The source further said that the cadres of NSCN-IM have been given 72 hours to 'withdraw' from the camp at Siroy.

'But if situation demands, the duration given to withdraw from the camp may be extended for us,' added the NSCN-IM source.

The source also added that the Government of India's Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) will decide and specify an area for the NSCN-IM's designated camp in place of the Siroy one.

Attempt to confirm whether the Assam Rifles personnel have withdrawn themselves from cordoning the NSCN-IM's camp at Siroy proved futile.

But sources said that till this evening, the Assam Rifles personnel were seen still loitering at the vicinity of the NSCN-IM camp.

Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM has appreciated the women folk of the area at Siroy for the 'meaningful role displayed'.

This time the women's participation at Siroy to prevent bloodshed was impressive,' said the NSCN-IM's MIP deputy secretary and former journalist Jacob Shaiza while talking to Newmai News Network (NNN) over phone.

He said that the women folks had been exerting all-out effort to bring a negotiated settlement pertaining to the Siroy impasse.

READ MORE - NSCN-Assam Rifles Siroy impasse resolved

Assam Rifles circles NSCN-IM's 'designated camp' in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 23 : The Assam Rifles have surrounded a camp of the NSCN-IM at Siroy in Manipur's Ukhrul district claiming that the outfit has no right to set it up there, AR sources said on Friday.

Barbed wire has been placed around the camp comprising temporary structures claimed by the NSCN-IM to be a 'designated one' with the Assam Rifles keeping it surrounded since January 18, the sources said.

Stating that the para military forces detected the camp during a regular patrol, the sources said "opening such a camp is in gross violation of the ceasefire ground rules signed between the central government and NSCN-IM."

The sources said the NSCN-IM had no right to set up a designated camp in Manipur territory and demanded that the outfit should immediately quit Siroy area.

NSCN-IM spokesman V Horam told Manipur-based local media that there was no question of vacating the camp and blamed the Assam Rifles for adopting a 'confrontational attitude.'

Residents of Siroy and surrounding areas have moved to nearby villages as a precautionary measure because of heightened tension between the two sides, reports said. 

The Centre had entered into a ceasefire with NSCN-IM for peace talks in 1997 and a ceasefire monitoring centre was established at Dimapur in Nagaland besides setting up designated camps there.

The NSCN-IM is fighting for an 'independent Nagaland'.

READ MORE - Assam Rifles circles NSCN-IM's 'designated camp' in Manipur

Peace rally at Ukhrul against series of blasts

Ukhrul, Jan 23 : A PUBLIC rally and meeting which were held here today came down heavily on the serial bomb blasts in the Ukhrul town in the recent past besides asking both Assam Rifles troops and NSCN-IM to stop the stand off at Shirui immediately in the public interest by withdrawing their respective personnels.

The Tangkhul Naga Long, the apex body of the Tangkhul community in the district, Tangkhul Shanao Long (Tangkhul Women's Organization), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Tangkhul Students' Union), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (Tangkhul Youth Council) and Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (Tangkhul Naga Heqadmen's Assn) sponsored public rally started from two points "one from the Old Kharasom Junction in the South and the other from Hungpung Dungrei Junction in the north at around 10 in the morning and was gathered at Tangkhul Naga Long Ground, located in the heart of the town.

People taking out peace rally against series of bomb blasts in Ukhrul street

A public meeting which was held after the rally condemning the bomb blasts that took place in the last few days and appealed not to repeat such a terrorizing act by any groups in the peaceful zone of the state.

The meeting also appealed both the 17 Assam Rifles and NSCN-IM to withdraw their stand off stand at Shirui range, around 20 km north of Ukhrul town in the interest of the general public for peaceful co-existence.

It may be noted that Ukhrul District is one of the most peaceful zone in Manipur in the past year.

Unfortunately, three bombs have exploded in the beginning month of the year.

At first,a bomb was lobbed at the residence of a government employee.

After few days, another bomb blast took place on at the residence of one important business man of the town located at the heart of the town on January 16 last.

Another bomb was also exploded at Wino Bazaar on January 19 night at around 9.30 in front of a provision store.Luckily no one was injured as the area was secluded in the night.

The blast, however make a hole at the cement slap in front of the store covering the drain.

The blast occured just two days after the explosion at the building that also housed SIB Office at Wino Bazaar.

Interestingly, the area wherein the blasts occurred on January 16 and 19 happens belongs to the same individual.

Though there was no casualty in all the 3 blasts, the blast had terrorized the general public and has created a panic among the public the town which has been witnessing a peaceful atmosphere since last one decade.

So far no suspect has been arrested by the police,though the security has beefed up in the town.

Regarding the ongoing stand off between the NSCN-IM and Troops of 17 Assam Rifles that had created panic among the public of three villages-Shirui, Choithaa and Langthang since Monday night, the public meeting appealed to withdraw their stand in the interest of the public.

READ MORE - Peace rally at Ukhrul against series of blasts