Arunachal's Soha village at mercy of army, militants

KHONSA, Dec 19 — Ultras from neighbouring states especially the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, (IM) and security forces engaged to contain the militants are busy in violating the basic human rights in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Since October this year, both the personnel of 7/8 Gorkha Regiment positioned at Deomali, and NSCN (IM) ultras have not only made the life of innocent villagers of the sleepy Soha village difficult but also snatched away their basic civil rights. According to eyewitnesses as the trouble started on October 5, after the Naga ultras campaigned at the community Hall of Soha Village. The jawans of 7/8 Gorhka Regiment, made an attempt to track down the hiding Naga militants, but the militants made good their escape. On October 10, the Naga militants again made a visit to Soha and imposed a fine of 5 lakh on the villagers, and beat up and hung upside down the innocent villagers and government employees on the suspicion that they had informed the security forces of their presence in the village. Yet, acting on a tiff off, the jawans of Gorkha Regiment rushed to spot and opened fire at the Naga militants, who fled on hearing the gun shots. Unable to catch the militants, the armymen instead beat up the innocent villagers and government employees saying that they were harboring the militants. “Militants and Army-men have made our life difficult. They come and beat us for no reason and thier excesses have exceeds all limitations", a victim of the army-militants fight, who didn’t wish to be identified told this correspondent. ‘The moment the army left our village the militants came and threatened us with dire consequences if villagers and all government employees did not pay the fine the NSCN (IM) imposed on us, by November 15," a government employee said on condition of anonymity. On November 15, the chief of Soha village, Santhang Lowang, along with two others was on way to the jungle with Rs 44,000 to pay the NSCN. But things went wrong for Lowang and his two friends including a government official, as the army intercepted them. The armymen initiated corporal actions by hanging them upside down. Unable to bear the inhuman torture inflicted on them, especially by the security forces, all government employees left Soha Village, and as a result a primary health centre, secondary school and other government establishments have remained closed since November. Since then the villagers of sleepy Soha Village are leading a horrible life without healthcare facility and school for their children. Adding to their woes, both the militants and army are still terrorising them with no intervention coming forth from the rulers and policy makers of the state. “I will not go back to my posting place even if the situation improves. Because I still cannot forget the mental and physical torture inflicted on me by Army without making any mistake. I had gone to Soha to serve people, definitely not to harbour militants and face humiliation and torture", a medical assistant, showing an injured mark inflicted by army, said on the condition of anonymity.

The Villagers of Soha, have expressed their deep resentment at the ruling Congress (I) government in the state for not taking precautionary measures to protect their lives and property from the claws of army and the militants.