Kohima, June 25: The Centre is taking the frequent desertion by police personnel to join Naga rebel outfits seriously.
This was stated by inspector-general of police (intelligence) C. Sangtam while commenting on the recent desertion by two Nagaland Armed Police (India Reserve) personnel with arms to join a rebel outfit.
Sangtam confirmed that the two deserters had joined a Naga outfit but did not disclose the identity of the outfit. The duo belonged to the F Company of 14 NAP (IR) based at Razuphema near Dimapur.
The F Company has been operating from Kohima since April to maintain law and order.
Since investigation into the incident is on, the police remained tight-lipped about it. But sources said on June 6, havildar Hotrong Chang deserted with one 9mm pistol, 10 live rounds and one radio set and on June 18, havildar Neiphukhrie deserted with one AK rifle, 47 rounds of live AK ammunition and some rounds of 9mm ammunition and a radio set.
The sources said the duo had joined a certain outfit based near Dimapur.
Though the reason behind the desertion has not been ascertained yet, this is not an isolated case. In the past, several Naga police personnel had deserted with arms and ammunition to join militant outfits.
The Centre had raised six NAP (IR) battalions in the state in the past couple of years as part of the police modernisation scheme to maintain law and order but there have been allegations of ill treatment of the personnel by the government. The personnel are also allegedly being underpaid, despite the fact that these personnel are regarded as the most efficient force in the state.
Sangtam said the matter was being taken up by the Union home ministry through the ceasefire monitoring group, which consists of officials from the Centre, the police, security forces and the state government. “The matter will be taken up by the ceasefire monitoring group,” he said.
He said arms and ammunition were government property, adding that the Centre would try to recover them.
In April, Assam Rifles arrested police constable Enyimi Chakhesang for allegedly supplying ammunition from the police central store, Chumukedima, to members of the NSCN (I-M).
Security forces had information that the militants were stocking ammunition in the Sukhovi area, 15km from Dimapur and they raided the spot on April 20.
During the raid, Chakhesang — who looks after the armoury in Nagaland police at the police headquarters in Kohima and was attached to the store at Chumukedima — was arrested with three of his accomplices — Zungkam Yimchunagr, 21, Tsuyenla Yimchungar, 39, and Lankiu Yimchugar, all residents of Shamator village in Tuensang district.
According to sources, the security forces also recovered thousands of bullets and a mobile handset. The delivery of the seized ammunition was made on April 19 and the consignment was supposed to have been collected by the NSCN (I-M) militants from Hebron Camp on April 20.
A police statement said the constable was believed to have been siphoning off police practice ammunition for the NSCN (I-M) over the past seven years.
Director-general of police O. Alem said the ministry of home affairs had taken note of the case with utmost seriousness as it involved national security and was even considering handing over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency.
The subsequent special investigation team probe led to implication of six police personnel, including a superintendent of police. The probe team recently arrested another man from Chumukedima — Sashitsungba Ao — when he was trying to sell a machine gun to a suspected militant for Rs 2 lakh.
