A copy of the letter

Khonsa (Arunachal Pradesh), March 25: Providing fodder for NSCN(I-M) bashers, security forces now claim to have found “concrete proof” of a conspiracy by the militant outfit to foment trouble during panchayat elections in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The state government has called off the elections in Tirap district as a “precautionary measure”, but polls will be held in the other districts as per schedule on April 2.

An official spokesperson, however, did not say if the panchayat polls in Tirap district were cancelled on the basis of information provided by the army. “The state election office, through a circular despatched to the district election officer and the eight returning officers on March 22, cited the situation as not conducive to elections,” the official said.

The NSCN (I-M), which claims that the easternmost districts of Tirap and Changlang are part of “Nagalim”, has written to community elders, village headmen and public leaders in the two districts not to elect anybody without its consent.

The diktat (see document on right) has been issued by the outfit’s armed wing — the “Naga army” — as part of its “Operation Salvation”, which aims to merge all Naga-inhabited areas of the region with Nagaland.

“No public leaders should be elected without the knowledge of the concerned authority,” the letter, dated January 2, 2003, says. The message, under the letterhead of the “Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim”, bears the signature of “lieutenant colonel” Rockwang Absolom Tangkhul, who reportedly leads the outfit’s operations in Tirap and Changlang.

The NSCN (I-M) has also forbidden hunting after 6 pm and asked villagers to keep it informed about activities of NSCN (K) members in their areas.

“Several candidates for gram panchayat, anchal panchayat and zila parishad seats have withdrawn their nominations for fear of being attacked by militants. Security forces cannot guard everyone individually. Therefore, it is better not to invite the attention of the rebels,” a villager said.

A source said the Mukut Mithi government cancelled the polls in Tirap primarily because Congress candidates had started withdrawing their nominations. “There is apprehension that the NSCN (I-M) will interfere in the Assembly and general elections next year,” he added.

Though very few dare to speak out against the NSCN (I-M), there is resentment among the public over the outfit’s diktat.

“This is a direct infringement on our freedom. They have no business here,” the goanburah (headman) of a village bordering Myanmar said.

Recently, Congress legislator W. Lowang aborted a trip to Natun Kheti village in Tirap district after being tipped about a plan by the NSCN (I-M) to ambush his convoy. The MLA told The Telegraph over phone from Khonsa that he and his bodyguards had to walk for six hours through the jungles to reach Khela village, from where he was escorted to the district headquarters by security forces.

A senior police official in Khonsa confirmed the incident.

The NSCN (I-M) had allegedly interfered in the just-concluded Assembly elections in Nagaland.

Ousted chief minister S.C. Jamir claimed that his party’s defeat was the result of intimidation of voters by members of the militant outfit.