Dimapur, November 12 (NNN): Pressure is mounting upon the NSCN-IM to release the seven public leaders including a pastor who were arrested by NSCN-IM activists two days back.

Two women organisations have demanded the immediate release of the arrested persons without any conditions.

Church Board of the Chakhesang Mission Centre has expressed its resentment and condemnation over the arrest of the seven leaders by the NSCN-IM.

However, the GPRN/NSCN (IM) today clarified that the Pastor and six public leaders including the chairperson of Pfutsero Town Council, who are presently in its custody, were arrested for interrogation in connection with an incident of vandalism at the office of Pfutsero Town Command, Naga Army.

According to a press release issued by NSCN (IM)�s MIP, about five hundred citizens of Nagaland's Pfutsero town took out a �mass peace rally� on October 6 in protest against a factional clash involving the NSCN (IM) and the FGN cadres in which an �innocent boy� sustained bullet injuries.

The NSCN (IM) also said that though the rally, staged for expressing public resentment against the incident, concluded peacefully, soon after a group, numbering about 30-40 people and allegedly at the instigation of �vested interests�, led to the office of Pfutsero Town Command of the outfit's Naga Army being destroyed.

The NSCN (IM) alleged that the group vandalized the said office and �destroyed the properties of the government (GPRN) without any scruple or compunction�.

The statement said it was due to this reason the �wrongdoers� were arrested for their �evident involvement� in violating the law and also to ensure that interrogation could be conducted fairly.

It assured that the abductees would be set free as and when found innocent but the guilty would have to face trial for their offence to check recurrence of such acts in future.

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