Following a Raid by Assam Rifles, NNPG Suspend Talks

The Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) has decided to suspend negotiations with the Government of India. The NNPGs comprise the armed groups who have signed ceasefire agreements with the Indian government. Their decision came after an emergency session was held following a raid on a member’s house on June 2.

It was reported on June 3 that Assam Rifles had recovered arms and cash from the residence of Naga National Council (Non Accordist) (NNC(NA)) general secretary  Vizosieihou Nagi in Jotsoma. The raid had been conducted in Nagi's absence. The haul, as reported at the time, consisted of two .303 rifles, one double barrel shot gun, one 12 bore rifle, one SBBL rifle, one 9 mm pistol, one 7.65 mm pistol, one .22 mm pen pistol, three magazines of 9 mm, 7.65 mm and .22 mm each. Ammunitions recovered were four rounds of 9 mm, 27 rounds of 7.65 mm, 81 rounds of .22 mm, 34 rounds of 12 bore rifle, one 9 mm fired case, one passive night vision binocular and one binocular. It was also alleged that cash amounting to over Rs. 10 lakh was recovered. This included US $ 15,671 and Indian currencies worth Rs 38,100. There were “incriminating documents” as well pointing to extortion to the tune of Rs. 28,08,062.

The publicity wing of the NNC issued a statement on June 4 that the raid was conducted by the Assam Rifles along with three drunk camouflaged local youth. They ransacked the house after breaking the lock on the door. The press release alleged that the Assam Rifles took Nagi’s personal dollars collection from 1994 onwards of old notes and his family members’ fixed deposits. They also alleged that money of compensation and acquisition of land for four lane roads at Sechü Zubza, Kohima was taken. Two World War II-era, old Japanese rifles, two helmets for use at Japanese Memorial site Puliebadze, Jotsoma on occasions, two licensed cartridge guns (not shotgun), one Air-Gun, one country made spoiled 9mm, one small normal binocular, one spoiled night vision, one spoiled .22 pen gun, some old photos of peace work, his personal security pistol, old records of NNC appeals and requests for funds for peace and unity work in the homeland but not received amount of money records, NNC (Non-Violence Group) files and records, and family files of land and property were also seized during the raid.

The NNPGs have been in talks with the government for a while. The biggest impact was the framework agreement signed between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Issac-Muivah (NSCN(IM)) and the Indian government in 2015. This has been viewed by some with optimism as speeding up the resolution of the Naga issue. Whereas, there are those who have voiced their scepticism considering that the contents of the agreement have never been made public. What is significant in the NNPGs' decision to cancel the talks scheduled for June 7 is that it has the potential to either derail the talks completely, or to force the Indian government to reign in the activities of the Assam Rifles.

On the other hand, however, what kind of message was intended by the raid? Was the raid meant to shake the NNPGs? Or was it meant to affect their unity? (Since the raid was conducted on the residence of a smaller NNPGs leader.) The NNPGs have called out the government on their duplicity and questioned how committed the government was to the dialogue process. The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) too commented on the episode and stated that the position of the NNPGs of suspending talks is justified. The NTC also stated that they had maintained silence on previous instances of raids carried on the residences of NNPGs leaders in the hope that better sense would prevail.

Since the situation is still unfolding, it would be pertinent to see how it pans out. Will the government of India reign in the Assam Rifles? Or will the entire peace process get derailed? If anything, the raids have helped generate solidarity among the NNPGs who have often had bloody internecine conflicts between groups.