Press Communique 15th March 2018
MAILING ADDRESS
C/O A.A.S.U. Head Office
Gauhati University Campus,
Guwahati
Tel : (0361) 2512785
Res
(0361) 2241999
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Hqs.
Guwahati
Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Hqs. Shillong
Garo Students’ Union (GSU) Hqs. Tura
The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), comprising of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), All
Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra
Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and
All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) representing eight major students’ movements of
the seven states of the North East Region, strongly condemns the brutal attack by Assam Police personnel
on unarmed students and journalists on the Assam-Mizoram border at Zophai, Bairabi town, Kolasib District,
Mizoram on March 8th and 10th. The Students were on their way to Zophai to build a rest house/shelters' hut
on land donated to them by the late Ch Chhunga , the 1st Chief Minister of Mizoram when Assam Police led by
the district authorities of Hailakandi district, Assam lathi charged the unarmed students and journalists who
were covering the incident. As many as 10 students were injured in the lathi charge on that day.
The Students and some journalists were again assaulted by the Assam Police on 10th March in the same spot.
The Police lathi charged the unarmed group as well as several journalists who were present on the spot
including two female journalists, although they made it clear several times that they were media persons who
were merely covering the incidents. The Police did not only beat the students and journalists with lathis but also
opened fire at them without any warning what so ever. As many as 49 students and journalists were injured in
the lathi charge and unprovoked firing on March 10th, many injured persons and those with bullet wounds are
currently being treated in hospitals in Mizoram.
NESO is deeply disturbed by the assault on unarmed students and journalists and strongly condemns the tragic
incident.
NESO demands that such police brutality should not happen again, and the concerned authorities
namely the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Hailakandi District, must be punished because of
what happened. NESO also demands that all the injured persons and those whose properties were damaged by
the police unprovoked action should be duly compensated and the authorities of both Assam and Mizoram
should take all necessary steps immediately to resolve the issue so that such untoward incidents do not happen
in the future.
( Mr. Samuel Jyrwa )
Chairman, NESO
(Mr. Sinam Prakash Singh)
Secretary General, NESO.
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