A rally was taken out at Tobu town in Mon district of Nagaland on Tuesday to protest against the ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy on May 25 and appeal for peace.
Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed while four others injured in the ambush, suspected to be carried out by the Yung Aung-led faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), at Changlangshu village, around 20 km from Tobu.
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The attack has created an atmosphere of insecurity in the area.
Also read: 2 Assam Rifles jawans killed, 4 injured in NSCN (K) attack in Nagaland
The rally, participated by over 1000 people, including students and women, affirmed the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) declaration of peace zone in its jurisdiction on December 12, 2007.
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Tobu area is under ENPO.
The rallyists gathered at Bazar junction in the town at 9 am where speeches were delivered by representatives of Konyak Union (KU) Tobu, KNSK Tobu and Tobu Area Students Union (TASU).
Also read: Eerie silence at Tobu in Mon after attack on Assam Rifles
The rally was held under the aegis of the Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) Tobu, an association of mothers.
The speakers stressed the need for peace, especially in Tobu where such incidents of violence have been occurring despite repeated appeals by the community people against them.
Teyeng Ngontang, vice president, Konyak Union Tobu, while condemning the ambush on the Assam Rifles, said the rally was held to send out a strong message to whichever group responsible for the May 25 attack that the people of Tobu are against such act of violence in their area.
TASU president Sangti Konyak expressed condolence to the bereaved families of the two Assam Rifles jawans who were killed in the incident. He said such incidents of violence disturbs peaceful co-existence among the community and called for peace.
Konyak added no development can take place without peace.
The rallyists submitted a memorandum, addressed to Mon deputy commissioner, to Tobu additional deputy commissioner, demanding urgent intervention of the administration to maintain peace in Tobu area.
Meanwhile, president of KU Tobu S.A. Ngamlao, in a release, expressed resentment over disruption of peace and for making Tobu area a “target zone” for violence.
He said people of Tobu area cannot bear such violence and anti-peace activities in their soil any longer.
The union has declared non-cooperation to the group involved in the attack on Assam Rifles personnel and said Tobu area should not be turned into a battle ground for any vengeance.
Ngamlao said the people of Tobu area support and affirm the Naga peace process but will not tolerate such inhuman anti-peace activities in their land.