DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 7 (MExN): The NSCN (R) has denied alleged involvement in the death of a youth in Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. The incident, as reported by The Arunachal Times, occurred on August 26 in which the victim was said to have died as a result of physical assault.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Information & Publicity, NSCN (R) on September 7, it termed the allegation leveled against it by the Khango Konyak-led NSCN (K) as “uncalled for and completely baseless.”
The MIP release said that it conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and found that the deceased youth fell victim to mob fury.
Citing the findings of the investigation, the release said that the victim, identified as Hangkon Solting, was a former pastor, who enrolled in the NSCN (K-Khango Konyak). It claimed that Solting was involved in “extortion” from villages and businesses in the Khimyang and Kantang Circles and Changlang town under the command of one Hangnang Pangtha alias Pandong Pangtha. Pangtha was described as a “revenue collector” of the NSCN (K-Khango Konyak) operating from Dimapur.
In the days running up to the death, it said that Solting had served “extortion notice” amounting to Rs. 50,000 each to villages under Khimyang and Kantang Circles.
“After forcefully collecting money from some of the villages he was pressing hard from the remaining villagers as well and asking them to pay heed to his demand,” it said.
The local populace, as per the release, told Solting not to harass them as the people of the area has suffered enough having to pay “taxes beyond their limits” to the different NSCN groups and various others.
It however claimed that the NSCN (R) has been the only group, which has exempted the local people in the Naga areas of Arunachal Pradesh from any form of taxation since February 2016.
While stating, “There was already a very strong anti-taxation wave building in the Tirap, Changlang and Longding areas,” it claimed that the extortion notice served by Solting “triggered the outburst of the sentiment of some people and he fell victim to the mob fury.”
Stating that the allegation against the NSCN (R) was “irrational,” it added that “photographic and circumstantial evidences” recovered in its investigation will be handed over to the law enforcing agencies.
