Kohima: The Nagaland Government constituted the three-member High Power Enquiry Committee (HPEC) on January 4 last to probe into the recovery of nine bodies from Pachaspura area, Chumekedima, Dimapur, while the Nagaland Home Department said the HPEC has been constituted along with police investigation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has identified 7 NSCN-IM cadres behind killings.
According to official sources today said that the 17th Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) meeting was held with NSCN (I-M) at Kohima Thursday, where CFMG Chairman Lt. Gen (retd) N.K. Singh has asked the NSCN (I-M) to hand over the seven alleged accused involved in execution of 9 persons in Pachaspura area, near Chumukedima to the Nagaland, which was discovered on January 3 last, to the police in whatever place convenient. Gen. Singh disclosed that NSCN (I-M)’s response was negative stating that the group was ‘not bound’ to hand over the alleged accused because as the two entities- Government of India and NSCN (I-M) were on a cease-fire.
Gen. Singh said that besides the three arrested, ‘seven more alleged accused in this case are evading arrest and are hiding in Hebron Camp under safe haven and sanctuary provided by the NSCN (I-M).’ He informed that NSCN (I-M) representatives had been asked to speak to their leaders and also reminded that the Mukalimi incident took place because of the group’s similar attitude.
Singh said, had the three accused being handed over to the police, Mukalimi incident would not have taken place and he three civilians would not have died and neither would the accused received capital punishment.
On the Rengma-Karbi issue, the chairman opined that the issue has turned into a humanitarian crisis.
He also said the killing of nine persons in Pachaspura area, Dimapur was ‘some kind of retaliations’ by the families of the affected. Singh said he had conveyed to NSCN (I-M) that the overall incident- Karbi-Rengma episode was ‘very unfortunate’ and killing of nine persons could not be overlooked.
He said the involvement of NSCN (I-M) has come to light with the arrest of three alleged accused while seven others were reportedly hiding in Hebron camp.
CFMG has asked NSCN (I-M) to hand them to the Nagaland Police.
NSCN (I-M) however has requested CFMG to take the Karbi-Rengma issue to the Government of India, to which Gen. Singh assured he would look into it.
CFMG informed that NSCN (I-M) had asked for an alternative camp in place of Mukalami camp. (UNI)
