DIMAPUR, July 12 ? The security forces have stepped up patrolling and frisking at several access routes to Dimapur, particularly from Niuland area and Intangki Reserve Forest area.Travelers from those areas reported that security forces have put up new check-posts and were frisking them as part of security measures. Sources said that this kind of security drill might be widened to other parts of the State if the activities of antisocial elements do not show any significant drop. Security forces said that from now on, frisking and other forms of security drill would be carried out routinely to contain antisocial activities and deter movement of illegal arms and other materials around the state.
CFMG chairman unaware: Meanwhile, following reports of frenzied movement of Army troops around NSCN-IM Council headquarters, CFMG chairman Gen. RV Kulkarni has said that he was yet to receive any direction or news from the Centre about deployment of the Army near the Council headquarters of the NSCN-IM. He said that he has not recieved any instruction on deployment of the Army and said that he would not know even if there had been shift of deployment policy of the Army or security forces as a whole. When asked if the NSCN-IM had lodged any complaint against reported movement of army troops around its council headquarters or on fresh deployment of army around its council headquarters, CFMG chairman said that he did not hear anything from the NSCN-IM ceasefire monitoring cell as yet. ?These are things which are settled at the local level unless the situation is serious?, pointed the General.
Denying reports that the NSCN-IM had been asked by the Centre through the CFMG to shift its council headquarters because it was located in a reserve forest and near Assam-Nagaland border, General Kulkarni said that till now, he was not asked by the Centre to direct the NSCN-IM to shift its council headquarters from the present reserve forest area to deep inside Nagaland. ?Nor have I asked them to do that,? said Kulkarni. However, highly placed sources at Delhi and Guwahati indicated that the Centre may soon ask the NSCN-IM to set up its council headquarters deep inside Nagaland to avoid any future skirmishes with the Assam Police ?by default or intent?.
The sources curtly pointed out that under a Supreme Court guideline, no human activity could be permitted in any Reserve Forest by anyone. Sources said that the NSCN-IM might be forced to shift its council headquarters from its present location because the land falls under Intangki Reserve Forest. It may be mentioned here that the July 1 firing incident over the establishment of Aturkimi model village in Dhansiri Reserve Forest area of Karbi Anglong, which led to the killing of an Assam Government magistrate, prompted an increasingly worried Centre to deploy troops around the NSCN-IM council headquarters near Munglamukh following reports from intelligence agencies on the ground.
NSCN-IM reacts: Earlier, reacting angrily to this aggressive army deployment, the NSCN-IM condemned the action and warned that it would deal with a heavy hand should there be any untoward incident in the area. Deputy kilonser of the NSCN-IM Kraibo Chawang said that creation of such war-like situation was deplorable and would aggravate the relatively peaceful atmosphere. Continuing its tirade against the ?Government of India? and the Army, the NSCN-IM accused the Centre of ?once again? collaborating with the NSCN-K all over Nagaland to undermine the NSCN-IM. The NSCN-IM said that such ?double standard policy? of the Government of India was aimed at creating an emergency situation in the state.