Gaon Burhas (village headmen) of Ikiesingram and Beisumpuloa villages in Nagaland have urged Assam Rifles and NSCN (I-M) to peacefully resolve issues and maintain harmony in the area.
In a joint statement, Beisumpuloa gaon burha Raidun Pame and Ikiesingram gaon burha Rangnim Pame also appealed to NSCN (I-M) to call back its 11 cadres to Hebron from the area to ensure peace, according to reports. They claimed that villagers get terrified at seeing armed cadres in the area.
The duo said personnel of Assam Rifles of Jalukie and Nagaland Police arrived at Ikiesingram and Beisumpuloa villages on March 1 and 2 in search of NSCN (I-M) cadres, who were present in Khelma Kabai area in Peren district since July last year.
Claiming that villagers in the area were frightened by this heavy movement of armed forces, they said they were praying so that there was no repetition of 1990s.
While destroying temporary camps of NSCN (I-M) cadres at Ikiesingram and Beisumpuloa villages on March 1 and 2, they said the Assam Rifles personnel had driven out the cadres to the outskirts of Beisumpuloa village and pushed them in deep inside the Intangki jungle.
Presently, the Assam Rifles personnel are staying in Khelma Kabai area and looking for these cadres in the jungle, they added.