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(He article hi MA kan zir laia ka ziah a ni a. Engemaw rokhawlhna avangin English magazine-ah ka chhuah lawk thei ta lo a…. .Rambuai vanga harsatna tinreng tuartute tan he article hi ka hlan e..)

History will neither forget nor forgive

As a young boy at a small village in the southern part of Mizoram(Zoram), my father would often narrate a story of Zingchhung(the elder brother of my grandfather) being tortured by Indian soldiers. Zingchhung, an ex-British Indian serviceman, who once fought Japanese forces in Burma front during second world war was suspected to be an MNF volunteer for possessing a country made gun. During interrogation Zingchhung was tied with rope and hanged upside down and then smoked with red chillies for over an hour. The smoke almost choked off Zingchhung to death. It was only after one villager who could speak little Hindi pleaded to army of Zingchhung’s innocence that army released him.

This was only one part of untold stories of repression unleashed by Indian armies while launching one of the most brutal military campaign against insurgency in the history of post-independent India. On 1 March 1966 Mizo National Front(MNF) declared independence, overrun treasury office, Assam rifle camp and waved MNF flag. In response, government of India send 61 mountain brigade comprising Sikh Battalion, 3rd Bihar regiment and 11th Gurkha regiment to subdue the rebellion. The troops entered Mizo district on 4 March 1966. This marked the beginning of untold suppression of human rights and civil liberties across the district for over twenty years.

After more than twenty years of turbulence, peace was finally restored in 1986 when MNF and government of India signed the Mizo accord, considered to be one of the most successful accord in the history of India’s dealing with insurgents group. The accord elevated Union territory of Mizoram into a full fledge state with a fair amount of autonomy.

The gross violation of human rights in the then Mizo hills district in 60s and 70s would be unknown to many outside the north east. In the absence of effective human rights and media activism during the period and the attempt by government to insulate most of information relating to its counter-insurgency strategies in the north east, little had been known in mainland India on what is happening in the region.

The military operation against MNF insurgents and the consequent sufferings it brought to the civilian population still left deep psychological and emotional impact among many Mizos even today. For many victims of the army brutalities, it was a horrific experience which they would rather like to forget. The use of air force, sexual violence and grouping of villages in particular turned insurgency in the district to be one of the darkest period in the history of the Mizos.

Use of air force
For the first time (the only one so far) in its war against insurgency, government of India deployed air force to contain rebellion in Mizo district on 5 March 1966 resulting in the destruction of house and life in Aizawl. The same day fighter Jets launch few strikes in Sangau, Khawzawl, Hnahlan and Tlabung creating a sense of fear and terror among the people.

Rape, torture, forceful resettlement, illegal detention apart, it was the use of air force which had deeply hurt the sentiment of many Mizos leading to further alienation. Today intelligentsia in the state failed to understand why Indira Gandhi’s regime chose to use air force which had not been not used even in 1962 border conflict with Chinese. Mizo Zirlai Pawl(Mizo students Federation), the influential students body time and again demand apology from government of India for its mistake in 1966. Added to the pain, government of India so far refused to apologize or at worst does not take the demands seriously.

Sexual violence against women
As in the case of Naga insurgency, Indian army resorted to massive sexual violence against Mizo women. The mass raping of women at Kolasib, Vairengte and Kawnpui village when the armies entered the district on the night of 4 March 1966 was well known among many second generation Mizos. Prominent historian Dr.JV.Hluna in his work “ A search for Mizo identity: Brig T. Sailo chanchin” noted that armies raped many women as if they were sexually thirst and some of the victims could not even move for many days.

From a limited account of the insurgency by few historians in Mizoram, it was clear that rape and molestation took place in many villages almost on a daily basis. Ironically some of the officers who were supposed to set examples to their soldiers were involved in this shameful crime. In “Zoram a tap(Zoram is crying)” Zama narrated various instances of rape committed by some of the junior officers. Captain Mohan Singh posted at Kawlkulh village Sing was one such officer well known for rape and molestation. The officer used to called women whom he suspected to be MNF volunteers inside his room on the pretext of interrogation and then sexually assaulted them.

Upon the persistent demands by the villagers he was dismissed from services without any further punishment. Major Pritam singh was another officer well known for his sexual notoriety against women. The officer posted at Ruallung village was later eliminated by MNF querillas. It was said that the officer used to note down the names of his victims in his diary. Major Deswal was another officer who raped many women at Ngopa and surrounding villages.

In most of the case, perpetrators hardly got serious punishment other than suspension or relieve from service. Dr.JV Hluna in “Zawlkhawpui senmei a chan ni( The day when Aizawl turned into fire)” mentioned that two Khasi MLA’s Rev. Hoover H Hynniewt and Rev Nicholson who were visiting the district to asses the situation, in Assam assembly on 5 April 1966 expressed their anguish at the continued silence of Assam government in the face of massive raping taking place in the Mizo hills. Rev. Nicholson also mentioned in the assembly that despite complaints to deputy commissioner, nothing was taken to brings jawans accused of raping to justice.

Re-grouping of villages
Forceful grouping of the villages was one of the counter-insurgency strategy adopted by armies in Naga hills and Mizo hills which led to massive human rights violation. With the objective destroying traditional tribal economy or jhum cultivation(to cut supply line to MNF rebels)many villages were forcefully grouped into one new settlement. The villagers were issued identity cards and their movements constantly checked. Further the new settlement was no longer economically viable as the existing limited land could no longer sustain the villagers. As a result many died of hunger and starvation. For many the experience was worse than that of famine in late 1950s.

At the ‘International conference on grouping of villages’ held in Aizawl on 6 September 2010, participants discussed various socio-psychological and economic impact caused by grouping of villages. Some of the participants even went to the extent of arguing that the programme turned out be a mini-concentration camp. The grouping was implemented mainly through force and intimidation. One of the participant mentioned that at Lawngtlai when members of village Council(VC) refused to abide by the army’s order to leave the villages for a new village they were hanged upside down and physically tortured. The villagers, desperate to save the life of VC’s member then urged the village head to obey the order. The army finally released the members after they agreed to shift to new settlement. Such was the extent of sufferings involved in village grouping that for many Mizos the incident turned out to be the saddest experience in life.

Fourteen years down the line since 1986 accord, Mizoram is now enjoying the fruits of peace and stability and emerged as one of the most peaceful state in India. The state is now making rapid strides in various economic and social spheres. Many Mizos strive to take opportunity offered by the rising India. Many joined all India and central civil service and spread to the nook and corner of the country.

Today fourth generation Mizos seem less preoccupied with the past history of their forefathers. The people of Mizoram seems gradually come to terms with the past memories. Yet, time could not fully heal the pain. A large section of intellectuals and students body like MZP in the state still find it difficult to forget nor forgive the Indian state’s repression at the time of insurgency. It is high time the government of India show immense maturity by apologizing for its past historical mistake. Mere apology will not able to undo the misdeeds. Nevertheless, it will ease the emotional pain suffered by the victims of atrocities and the people of state at large.

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