Operation Bluebird
Indian Security forces has been carrying out counter insurgency operation in Naga country
since 1954 and till today in various means and inflicted the innocent Naga public. In course of the operation, the Indian forces had beaten, tortured and
murdered the public in inhuman manners, raped and sexually molested our women, burnt down
entire villages and destroyed properties, for instance Khonoma Village was burnt down for
seven times and Chiifiimei village for seven times and likewise in many other Naga
villages. The innocent public do not dare to speak out the
reason why and the opportunistic and commercial politician do not come out to rescue the
public from the jaws of the bloodthirsty Indian armed forces. How small the Naga
country it may be is inevitable to repulse the enemies from our country. Fighting, killing
between the nationalists and aggressors is a daily phenomenon in the Naga country. The
Indian forces are always hitting below the belt, but inspite of any amount of death toll
of Naga patriot in any combat, we do not retaliate against the Indian
innocent public but the Indian army avenged its dead and loss of arms and ammunition from
the innocent Naga public and extorted properties from them to make good the lost in the
war and tortured the public in inhuman manners at various parts of Naga country. To avenge the losses they launched an operation in an action of the Indian
security forces to the innocent Naga public in recent time following the camp attack of
Assam Rifles post at Oinam in Manipur by men of NSCN (IM) July 9, 1987 was
unprecendentedly the worst of its kind in Shepoumaramth area, also one of the biggest loss
for the Indian independent country, in which arms and ammunition had been snatched away
with 90 SLR, 22 stengun, 10 LMG, 60 mortrar bomb, 396 hand granade, over 27,808 round of
ammunition. The Indian government have launched the operation under the code name
of "Operation Blue-Bird". In the name of counter-insurgency, the Assam Rifles
let loose a reign of terror in the entire area of Oinam. The excesses committed in the
operation bluebird by Assam Rifles is historic in the annals of theNaga national
movement. That with the help of the Naga People's Movements for Human Rights, and other
organisations, the armed forces were brought to the court. This is the
first time in the long torturous history of violation of human rights of our people to
bring the guilty officers of Indian security forces to stand in the dock and answer the
charges of murder, rape, looting and arson.
Area of Operation Within 24 hours of raiding, the Assam
rifles have sealed off the area, and on July 11, 1987 an extensive combing operation was
launched with the code name "Operation Bluebird" with a
view to genocide the Naga public under the cover of recovering the
looted arms and ammunition. Operation-Bluebird was carried out in surrounding
thirty villages of Oinam- Oinam, Thingba Khullen, Thigba Khunou, Khabung, Sorbung, Ngamju,
Purul Akutpa, Purul Atongba, Koide Maiba, Phuba Thapham, Phuba khuman, Liyai, Chingmei
khullen, Chingmei khunou, Phaibung khullen, Phaibung khunou, Lakhamai Sirong, Sirong
Shofii, Kodom Khravo, Khongdei khuman, Khongdei Shimgphum, Khonggei Ngawar, Thiwa, Ngairi
Khullen, Ngairi Leishang, Ngiri Raiduloumai, Tingsong and Khamson. The Operation carried
out for nearly four months lasted till the end of October 1987.
Excesses in Operation
Within a few days of launching the operation , the Assam Rifles shot
dead fifteen persons after subjecting them to inhuman torture. There were serious of
reports of villagers being subjected to all kinds of cruel inhuman and degrading treatment
by the Assam Rifles. The whole area was imposed with curfew. The villagers were
made to stand in the open, exposed to torrential rains and scorching heat for weeks. The Assam Rifles went from house to house searching and looting valuable
things of the villagers. People were not allowed to go to their fields and to tend
their cattle's, thereby millions worth rupees of agricultural crops were destroyed. The
Assam Rifles, chasing up and down the villagers, grouping them beating and torturing the
able-bodied young man after stripping them naked before the public view as dreaded
criminals, confined the mammoth in the concentration camp and kept them for days together
without food and water, and not even the infants, the sick, and the aged men were
spared. Many people were shot dead, many adults and babies died due to constant
harassment, forced starvation and denial of medical aid and many died of shock seeing
their dear ones tortoured to death. The Naga people have no human value before the
Assam Rifles. Hundreds of villagers were severely beaten and subjected
to third degree method of torture. Men were blind-folded, hangd upside down, buried alive,
given electric shocks, tied four limbs, kept for days together and dragged around at
times, put chilly powder to the eyes and nostrils, beaten with Rifles butts, wooden logs,
iron rod, lathis from foot to head, beaten leg on the table, crushed hand on the ground
which leading to haemotysise, bone fracture, head injury, boxed on the face, chest, ear,
pierced with needle or nails which caused many to hearing impairment and fractured ribs
and many maimed and handicapped for life. Two women were
forced to gave birth in the open air in-front of the Jawans,. mothers were forced to work for the Assam Rifles on the day of delivery,
hundreds of villagers were forced to labour for the Assam Rifles for months without
payment. Many houses were burnt down, several churches and schools were dismantled.
Interrogation were made at gun-point, inserting pistol in the mouth. Pointing at forehead
and heart etc. In such manner, the Assam Rifles had tortured the innocent public on
the plea of searching for the lost arms.
Abrogation of civil Administration
Many public leaders, political leaders, journalists, student leaders,had voiced their
concern and sent representation to the government. However, no official commission of
enquiry or even an administrative investigation was forthcoming. The leaders coming to see
the people were tortured and sent to jails on false charges. The Assam Rifles had
completely disregarded the civil administration and ran a parallel administration in the
area. The civil law had ceased to operate in Senapati District of Manipur. The Deputy
Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were wrongfully confined, humiliated and
prevented from discharging their duty by the Assam Rifles and the Chief Minister was made
helpless in protecting the villagers from the Assam Rifles' atrocities. Thus the Assam
Rifles overthrew the civil government and ran a Nazi type of despotic government in the
area which have taken a heavy toll of many lives and devastated immeasurable amount
of properties. The toll list of major victim-villages are as under: -
1. Oinam Village
P. Sanglong, Village chairman -Shot dead.
Th. Wakhao, G.B -Shot dead.
L.P. Ring, Asst. teacher -Shot dead.
B. Lash, School secretary -Shot dead.
Mrs. Thekhala w/o, Ngaoni -died of shock
Mrs. Thone w/o Sangao -died of shock
Mrs. Lala w/o, Lama -died of shock
Miss. Thila w/o, Kang -died of shock
Th. Pao s/o, Thithi -died of starvation in the concentration camp.
Mr. Martin s/o, Longma -died of starvation in the concentration camp.
Mr. Henry s/o. Sangdua -died of starvation inthe concentration camp.
Miss. Khaila d/o, Dowang -died of starvation in the concentration camp.
56 innocent villagers beaten and tortured.
65 houses dismantled
2 houses burnt
Mr. Loathe buried alive.
Mrs. Khola - forced-delivery before the public view.
Mrs. Lomana - forced-delivery before public view.
2 Khongdei Khuman
Zumo, headman - Shot dead
Th. Tungta teacher - shot dead
R. Khoula, G.B - Shot dead
Kh. Seinai, G.B Shot dead
34 innocent villagers beaten and tortured.
20 houses brunt down
1 woman tortured and raped.
3 Khondei Shimphung
M. Esau, V.A - shot dead
M Thawa, V.A - shot dead
34 villagers beaten and tortured
12 houses dismantled and burnt many precious properties were looted.
4 Phuba Khuman
5 Phuba Thapham
Mrs. Lachao-e w/o, Viesii died of shock
Mr. P Pazii teacher -died of shock
35 persons beaten and tortured.
6. Ngari Khullen
Rangkhao, Headman shot dead
Mathol-mi, V.A shot dead.
20 persons beaten and tortured
7.Thingba Khullen
8 Thingba Khunou
Mr. Seva, Church chowkidar shot dead
6 houses dismantled
4 persons severely beaten.
9 Ngamju
10. Phaibung Khullen
11 Phaibung Khunou
12. Kodom
13. Shirong
14. Lakhamai
15. Liyai
16. Tinsong
17. Purul
18. Koide
19 Maiba
20 Sorbung
21 N. Mayangkhang
22 Pudunamai
Many public leaders, student leaders, and political leaders
were arrested and tortured, namely: -
- Th Liba, MDC
- Th Saloni, MDC
- L.R Maki, MDC
- L Kasaso, MDC
- Th Puni, MDC
- Angelius, District Council Chairman
- P.S Pou, Public Leader
- V. Solomon, Congress Worker
- Thio Daniel, Student leader
- L Jonathan, Public leader
- Chokriviyi Venyo, Naga Student Federation (NSF), delegate
- Neikho Lhousa, Vice President NSF
- Keviletuo Kheiwhou, NSF delegate
- L Lohe, President Mao Student Union.
- Artex Shimray, President ANSAM (All Naga Student Association in
Manipur)
Human Rights Movement
Civil liberties and Human Rights Organisation (CLAHRO) was the first to
file petition to the Guwahati High Court for release of illegally arrested public leaders
and villagers. Another case was filed by the Manipur Baptist Convention Women's Union on
rape, sexual molestation, forced labour and porters on womenfolk by theAssam Rifles. The
atrocities continued unabated. In this the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR)
had filed writ petition on October 5, 1987 on the atrocities
committed by the Assam Rifles. The petition was supported by a large member of
affidavits given by the victims. The petitions has annexed memoranda, and appeals made by
various political and voluntary groups to the state and central government for necessary
action of the excesses of Assam Rifles and relief of the victims. In support of these
charges the Naga People's Movement for Human Right filed dozens of affidavits of victims,
memorandums, petitions, News paper reports and other documents running into more than a
thousand pages. The NPMHR in the writ petition has asked the court for necessary action
against the excesses committed by the Assam Rifles during the Operation Bluebird.
Revoking the notification declaring Senapati District as a disturbed
area under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. To lay down guidelines to ensure that civil administration can
effectively check misuse of power by the Armed Forces during the combing operations. To declare section 6 of the Armed Forces Special power Act
unconstitutional. Because of this section no one can file any case against the Security
Forces even if they commit crimes without first obtaining permission from the central
Government, an impossible condition for the villagers in the hill areas. Examplary damages to be paid to the families of those tortured to
death, to those who were assaulted or raped, to the house owners whose houses
were dismantled or burnt; to those who were tortured or illegally detained; to those whose
goods were looted or destroyed and to all those who were forced to work without payment. Criminal cases be filed against the guilty men and officers of the
Assam Rifles. High Court has directed the Sessions Judge, Manipur on 6 July, 1988 to
record the evidence on the following charges of murder, torture, rape, illegal detention,
dismantling and desecration of churches, dismantling of houses, schools, forced labour and
looting by the Assam Rifles during the operation Bluebird.
Three women were raped, five women were sexually
molested two women were forced to get delivered child before the public view, pregnant
women were forced to use as potter. 340 persons were beaten and tortured in third degree
methods of various inhuman manners, 96 persons were arrested and detained at their camp
for weeks in inhuman condition. 125 residential houses were burnt and 172 houses were
dismantled, 10 churches and 6 schools were dismantled Millions of rupees worth of property were looted and
annihilated. For instance they have looted property of 50,7900/- worth at Oinam,
Ngamju, Khongdei Shimphung, Khongdei Khuman, Kodom Khullen and Sorbung villages. More than
50,000 men were force to labour without wages, used for jungle cutting, camp
construction, transporting goods etc. and million of rupees worth of crops were destroyed
by un-tended cattles and Jawans.
COCOI
The Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) was the
chief opponent against the Assam Rifles, but the organisation has meager resources to
handle the case if alone, since the case was a big one. Later, four organisations -
NPMHR, United Naga Council, (UNC) Manipur
Baptist Convention Women's Union (MBCWU) and All Naga Students
Association, Manipur. (ANSAM) together formed a body known as - Coordination
Committee on Oinam Issue (COCOI) in October 1987 and decided to pool in their
resources and take up the issue. Helping the advocates, contacting villagers and
co-ordinating the various aspects of work related to the petition, in order to put an end
to the armed atrocities and to restore the rule of law in the area. This is how the COCOI
came into being. Several other capacities. NSF (Naga Students'
Federation) CLARHO (Civil right and human Right Organisation),
NDFHR (Naga Doctor's Forum on Human Right, BCIRO (Bombay and Calcutta Democratic Right Organisation) AMSU (All Manipur Students Union). Not only organisations but also
individuals like the internationally renowned dancer Uma Sharma came to Manipur and
Nagaland and performed voluntarily to help COCOI in order to put down military atrocities
to an end.
In the course of time the members of the COCOI witnesses had been intimidated by the Assam
Rifles. They tried to terrorize the people into silence and filed false criminal cases
against the key witnesses and prevented the villagers from coming to Imphal, illegally
arrested, detained to refrain from attending the court, the Assam Rifles' advocate Mr. T.
Bhubon Singh threatened to use force against the lawyer for NPMHR. Later the Assam Rifles
raided MBC (Manipur Baptist Church) girl hostel where the advocate of NPMHR was staying
and threatened to use force against her. Further Assam Rifles filed criminal cases under
terrorist Act against church leaders and NPMHR activist. The goodwill mission of NSF who
went to Oinam were arrested and tortured, the national press was forbidden to visit the
affected area by AssamRifles, no local journalists were allowed to enter the area. The
Assam Rifles spread unfounded rumours like," the NPMHR activists are anti-national,
supporter of underground". Besides certain local politicians are behind this case who
procured witnesses for Assam Rifles. Again no politicianl during the time has had the gut
to help and stand for its people. Against all odds and hindrance the NPMHR had been able
to continue because of the indomitable courage of the villages, which has been a constant
source of inspiration.
Amnesty international
Human Rights Organisations all over the country and even international organisation voiced
their concern over blatant interference of Assam Rifles in the judicial process. Amnesty
international gave the following statement to the 45th United Nations' commission on Human
Rights.
" In some countries, serious machinery for independent judicial investigation may be
in place but its efforts to investigate human rights may by sabotaged. A court in India
has been investigating allegations of reprisal killing and torture of villagers by the
Assam Rifles in Manipur State. It is reported that members of the Assam Rifles have
reportedly tried to intimidate witnesses, even resorting again to torture, and also to
intimidate one of the lawyers by invading her lodging and threatening to use force against
her. The government of India has regrettably not responded to amnesty international's
request to observe the proceeding. "
The atrocious excesses of the Assam Rifles during the Operation
Bluebird has become an international issue with the London based Human Rights Organisation
who mainly concern for the protection of Human Rights. The amnesty international
alarmed the Indian government for not allowing its observers to hear the court proceedings
at Manipur in connection with this incident. In a letter on 1st Nov. 1988, the
International Agency addressed the Union Home Minister to take up steps to, ensure that
all complaints of abuses and witnesses to such acts be protected against ill-treatment or
intimidation as a consequence of their complaint or any evidence given as in article 13
of the UN convention against torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment urge all government to do. The international agency wrote
seventy-three-page document against the extra judicial executions in Manipur during
Operation Bluebird committed by Assam Rifles.
The sessions Judge ended recording of evidence and has transferred all the record to the
High Court, Gauhati on April 21, 1990, The High Court has completed hearing is awaited the
verdict. The COCOI has won the moral and political victory is expected the legal too.
OINAM
Words: Wati Aier
Music: Takatemjen.
Last night I read in a local
newspaper
It was the story of Oinam.
What a story of sin and shame!
The Jawans molested and raped my sisters!
In torrential rain and scorching heat
Men and women were made to stand.
Chorus:-
I cried in the silence choking my shout
from rusting out.
How long are we to bear such an insult?
That day when the sun sunk behind Oinam hills.
The desires and dreams of this land rekindled
That day mothers wept at the graves
The church became concentration camps.
Men were beaten up and hung down
Two women gave birth to their babies
In the open air in front of Jawans
Oh! Oinam, what a nightmare.
Oinam, Oinam, Oinam, Oh! Oinam
You are a sign of bondage and slavery,
If my people forget you Oh Oinam
Let them never, never sing again.
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