Incessant loud burst from automatic rifles by underground elements for around two hours rent the air shattering the Sunday evening silence of Borduria and Kaimai villages in Tirap district as security forces watched helplessly.
The turf-war by two groups firing thousands of bullets left the villages shell-shocked while many wondered - Why the security forces were reduced to lame ducks and failed to take on the these elements? Was it for their inability or there was no instruction from authorities concerned?
The security forces during search operation in the battle field Monday recovered an AK-56 rifle and 20 live rounds but could not ascertain if there was any causality or injury on either side.
This is the fourth gun battle between the NSCN (IM) and Khaflang cadres in the district this year and second at Boduria, according to district sources. Five days earlier in the wee hours of October 23, such infighting at Chasa village had left A. C. Mishu Sing, 24, an NSCN (IM) cadre belonging to Ukhrul district of Manipur dead and an AK-47 rifle and 19 live rounds recovered from his person.
This year's first turf-war was reported from Chasa village in January and second in Borduria in March last, another took place along the Changlang-Tirap-Myanmar tri-junction but could not be ascertained because for the remoteness of the area while another reported Saturday last from Namtok area in Changlang district, the sources added.
Intermittent infighting for area dominance between these two groups is a common phenomenon in both insurgency-infested districts (newly created Longding district included), declared disturbed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 notwithstanding the ongoing peace talk between Naga groups and the Centre since 1997 for an amicable solution to the Naga imbroglio.
Imposition of house tax, extortion, threat and intimidation haunts the poor people of these districts who have been left to fend for themselves without any escape route while GoI or GoAP seems to be lest bothered.
When contacted, New Delhi mandarin, on condition of anonymity, in clearly told that law and order is a state subject and additional forces at the request of the GoAP were deployed by the union ministry of home affairs (MoHA).
The present deployment included one IBRn and CRPF battalion in each district, one and two battalions of Assam Rifles in Tirap and Changlang respectively, Army's 111 Mountain Brigade (Madras Regiment) in Tirap but not battle-ready while 4th Rajput Battalion in Longding district.
It would be worth recalling that the then Home Minister P Chidambaram, after expressing his satisfaction at the law and order situation in the state here on May 12 last had told media persons that "They are eliminating each other by such infighting which we do not encourage and should not happen in Arunachal soil. Any action that violates the rights of the Arunachalees would be dealt with by stern action....No ceasefire ground rules are applicable to Arunachal. The GoAP would take action against any violation of the rules by any faction of NSCN (K) or NSCN (IM) as we do not recognise their presence in this state."
But despite the knowledge about the presence of both the groups in huge numbers in the districts why do the security forces remain silent spectators and launching search operation only after every turf-war is intriguing.
Are such violent actions leading to bloodshed not contrary to Chidambaram's satisfaction? Are these infightings not violation of ceasefire ground rules? If yes, why the security forces are not acting? Is the GoAP appraising the MoHA on the ongoing battle? - are relevant questions for the GoI/GoAP to reply.
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