The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has issued a strong condemnation against a directive circulated by the Officer Commanding (OC) of the Wakka Company Operating Base (COB), 44 Assam Rifles, Khonsa Battalion, Arunachal Pradesh.
The MIP of the NSCN-IM said in a press release that the directive, dated January 15, 2025, was addressed to village heads in the districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding.
According to the NSCN-IM, the OC’s ‘Information’ said, “There should be no recruitment of men by NSCN(IM), NSCN(KYA), NSCN(Reble) and ULFA-I in your respective villages. Any information of such activity shall be informed to ‘D’ Coy ‘Wakka COB’, 44 Assam Rifles at the earliest”.
The OC added in the ‘information’ that villages failing to comply or found engaging in such recruitment activities would face legal action.
The NSCN-IM described the directive as “high-handed,” asserting that it contravened the Ceasefire Ground Rules agreed upon between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM.
“The main concern of the Government of India is about the reports of forced recruitment. To this, NSCN made things very clear that they have not and do not resort to forced recruitment,” the NSCN-IM emphasized.
The NSCN-IM further criticized the OC for overstepping his mandate, stating that his actions were an affront to the dignity of the Naga people.
“In the light of the ceasefire ground rules, the information emanating from a mere CO of AR Battalion is absolutely disgusting and disgraceful for the Nagas of Arunachal in particular and for the whole Nagas in general,” it stated.
“For the NSCN spearheading the movement to defend the historical and political rights of the Naga nation, this matter is an affront to the dignity of the Nagas. This has brought us to the situation to condemn CO, Wakka COB for his information to the village heads on recruitment that is not within his purview,” it said.
The NSCN-IM concluded by condemning the OC’s actions and warned him to refrain from involving himself in matters beyond his jurisdiction in the future.