The much touted epithet of the Assam Rifles \u201cFriends of the Hill People\u201d seems to be fast proving contrary in the four Naga-inhabited hill districts of Manipur as people took to the street in the form of sit-in-dharna in protest against the siege of Shirui village in Ukhrul district by the 17 Assam Rifles.\nResponding to the call of the Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM), the Naga women carrying placards staged sit-in-dharna in different parts of the four Naga-inhabited hill districts of Manipur today demanding immediate withdrawal of the Assam Rifles and cessation of the ongoing siege.
\n\u201cCease the Shirui siege\u201d, \u201cWe demand immediate withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Shirui village\u201d, \u201cCeasefire is universal\u201d, \u201cDon\u2019t break peace to pieces\u201d, \u201cWe want negotiation not confrontation\u201d, \u201cCeasefire is between GoI & NSCN not state\u201d and \u201cCutting off food and water supply is violation of right to live\u201d, read the placards.
\nThe sit-in-dharna, an initiative of the UNC, was organized under the banner of the NWUM in every town and administrative headquarters of all the four hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong.
\n\u201cHistory tells us that the AR has been in the Naga areas for a long time now and it as part of the Indian security force had always created havoc even in the Naga struggle. The force has become more sophisticated now,\u201d said former UNC president Paul Leo while talking to media persons on the sideline of the dharna at Senapati.
\nHe also rubbished the much touted epithet of the Assam Rifles and said \u201cthey have been claiming that they are the friends of the hill people but they have been the predators of the Nagas\u201d. To justify his point, Leo sought to know how many Naga women had been raped and how many Naga houses destroyed by them?
\nReacting to the publicity stunt of the AR helping the public through distributing drinking water to the agitating women at Shirui village, he warned that with such kind of \u201csugar coated act\u201d, the AR cannot win the heart of the people.
\nIn the same vein, Grace Shatsang, president, NWUM, said the Assam Rifles call themselves Friends of the Hill People but there work does not match. She also went on to castigate the logo scripted on the main gate of the IGAR(S) which reads \u201cAssam Rifles – Custodian of Manipur\u201d and wondered whether they are really the custodian of Manipur.
\nIn this regard, she wanted that the Manipur government look into the matter and take up necessary corrective measures.
\nMeanwhile, it was learnt that the UNC is calling for an emergency meeting tomorrow to decide the future course of action.
\nOn the other hand, sources said all the Naga MLAs from Manipur along with the Naga MP from Outer Manipur constituency had been camping in New Delhi to put pressure on the Centre to defuse the standoff.<\/p>\n