Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, June 15 2010:
For the first time ever since the Government has inked the Suspension of Operation (SoS) with the rebel outfit, KNO has threatened to walk-out of the agreement if the Indian Army does not check the misadventure of its few junior officers with utter disregard for human lives and the ground rules of the SoO pact.
A statement of the outfit signed by its president, PS Haokip, alleged that 'few' Army officers are indulging in inhumane activities in trying to boost their career prospects and in utter disregard for human lives and the ground rules of the SoO pact.
On such officer, it alleged, is Maj Kartik of 21 Assam Rifles, 'who on May 14, 2010 at Khobung camp in Chandel district killed five members of the Pakan Revolutionary Army, a constituent unit of KNO, in a fake encounter''.
The allegation has come about after the outfit's earlier claim that Maj Kartik accepted bribe from WS Warngam, president of Anal Tangpi, a social organization and handed over the five cadres of the Pakan Revolutionary Army over to NSCN (IM) men identified as TS Thumwar and WS Shelno, who in turn carried out the torture and subsequent inhuman killing.
Another incident, the outfit further pointed out, is the alleged killing of 4 KLA cadres, also a constituent of the KNO and a truck driver at Mongkot village on 7 September 2009 .
They were killed despite obtaining prior permission under the SoO ground rules for a routine operation, it asserted.
'Enough is enough, and the KNO will no longer tolerate this kind of nonsense any more.
Henceforth if there is a repeat of such incidents the KNO will be forced to pull out of SoO'', the president of the rebel outfit threatened.
The statement also raised a poser over exercising encounter killing as the basis for according recognition and honour to Army officers who are posted in disturbed areas.
The basis needs serious and urgent review as it is rampantly misused by some unscrupulous officers posted in J&K and the North East, it said.
Besides, exhorting the family members, relatives, friends and all members of the KNO to join in paying respect to the departed souls, KNO president categorically stated that 'If such circumstances are allowed to prolong, it may not be possible for the KNO to comply with the SoO ground rules one-sidedly, especially with regard to the deposition of weapons in double lockers at the designated camps'.