UNC calls for Thamkishore release, condemns IRB

Imphal, March 26: The United Naga Council, in a press statement today called upon the government of India and the NSCN(IM) to thrash out their differences without further delay to facilitate the safe release of Y Thamkishore Singh, DC Chandel, on humanitarian grounds. The statement signed by the UNC president, KS Paul Leo, also appreciated the selfless efforts of various social organizations based in Chandel in particular and others, for securing the release of the captive government official. The release further expressed serious concern "with the incident of March 16, 2002 at Pallel Bazar where 11 NSCN cadres were brutally massacred by the India Reserve Batallion, IRB." "The gruesome killing of such nature must be condemned by all who are concerned for peace, justice, freedom and democracy in view of the Ceasefire between the Government of India (GOI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN)," the release continued. It said the Pallel killing shows that the IRB had committed the act with intentional calculation. "We therefore, reject the contention of the State Government that all those slain 11 cadres of NSCN were killed in the encounter between the IRB and NSCN. It was nothing but an act of cold blooded murder committed by the state forces," the release said. The UNC release also "condemned the endorsement of the state government of such barbarous acts of IRB particularly during the Ceasefire period and appeals both the State and Central Government that they must sec to it that such acts are checked and never allowed to recur again in future because such acts of IRB have larger and serious implications even for the civil population."