Assam Rifles have not done their job admirably in tackling insurgency in the north-east. The rape and murder of Manorama by one of their personnel raised an outcry. Irom Sharmila has been battling the highhandedness of security forces in Manipur for years. Now Assam Rifles has overstepped an authority in Nagaland, sending a notice to 5 newspapers saying that publishing articles listing NSCN (Khaplang) demands adds up to violation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act, 1967). It has been done at an inopportune moment when the NSCN (K) is getting decimated. The Centre should tell Assam Rifles that encroaching on the jurisdiction of the media is beyond their purview. A Section of the UAPA makes any link with a banned organisation like the NSCN (K) liable for punishment. Reporting the activities of the organisation does not constitute advocacy, abetment or incitement to a lawful activity. The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, has thankfully now been repealed.
Though the terrorism mounted by the NSCN (K) is on the wane, this destruction cannot be wished away. Blanketing of news about it is tantamount to lulling people into a false sense of security. For instance, the targeting of state legislatures considered to be against Naga sovereignty. Editors should decide on the reporting of NSCN (K) activities. They should of course keep a vigil over the security of Nagaland and of Assam Rifles. The media should exercise internal censorship and that should be enough. This is the lesson from the emergency in 1971-75.