SN appeals for peace in Tuensang; cautions about IBIs

Survival Nagaland (SN) has expressed deep concern over the recent tribal clashes in Tuensang among the two Naga brother tribes, and appealed to the communities to let peace prevail.
In a press release, SN media cell while quoting Martin Luther King Jr.– “We must either remain together as brothers or perish together as fools”, asked “what could be more truer than this saying for the Naga society today?”
SN said division of tribalism and narrow-mindedness of our outlook has killed none others but ourselves.
Pointing out that Tuensang is also one district where IBIs has greatly swelled in numbers in recent times, SN said almost all business activities were captured by them.
It said that most of these IBIs were the ones who were chased out during its Mokokchung 2007 campaign while half of them were also now in Dimapur, “the ever free heaven for them without any restrictions being an ILP free zone and random issuance of every necessary documents recklessly by our local authorities”. They are now enjoying all the benefits to their fullest when actually should belong to Nagas, SN added.
Stating that conflicts with one another would only allow these “illegal aliens” achieve their nefarious plan over-running our land and the entire North-East India, SN urged all Nagas to unite and stand against their common adversary.
“Our disunity only benefits them while their strength in economic domination and other activities grows stronger”, SN stated.
SN appealed all concerned “not to incite the flames of tribalism and divisions further by instigating the tribes” adding, “the lack of our forgiving spirit and the policy of an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind”.
Warns anti-social elements
Meanwhile, Survival Nagaland has expressed deep regret over the brutal assault on a driver of Nagaland Post by “some anti-social elements” posing as SN volunteers (on Monday night) on the pretext of checking Identity Card (IC) and also looting the mobile and other belongings.
Condemning the incident, media and public cell of SN warned those responsible for the cowardly act, that it will spare no efforts to award befitting punishment as per the law against the imposters.
SN said such imposters were trying to take advantage of its ongoing efforts to cross-check (on illegal migrants) but reiterated that its movement was peaceful, democratic and non-violent and not directed against any community, religion or group.
SN clarified that it undertakes cross verification only with prior notice and understanding with authorities and there was no random check at anytime. SN said its main objective was to spread awareness towards imbibing work culture and dignity of labour among people but would not remain a silent spectator to kidnap, rape, killing of harm inflicted on the people.
Monday’s incident has only served to confirm that public safety and security in Dimapur town has become uncertain, be it day or night as bitterly and painfully experienced by many helpless victims.
It may be noted, that on Monday night at around 7.30 p.m. the driver of Nagaland Post, who was returning home, was waylaid near the SIB office at Circular Road by two miscreants in an autorickshaw. They hurled questions and demanded to see his Identity Card (IC). When the driver said he had left his card at home and requested that they contact the Office for confirmation, the miscreants got angry and asked him if he knew the consequences of not carrying an IC. The miscreants -a teenaged local youth and the non-local auto driver, then forcibly bundled him in the auto rickshaw and drove to a lane where he was badly beaten up with an empty bottle of liquor they had consumed.
When night falls, many of those returning home from work or assignments, fall prey to anti-social elements. Invariably, most of the victims happen to be non-locals from whom the anti-social elements demand they produce identity cards, assault them at the flimsiest of pretext and loot the victims of mobile phones, cash etc.
The district police need to tighten night patrol and ensure that the flying squad vehicles are stationed at strategic locations.