Newmai News Network
Imphal | April 27
Several Naga organisations in Manipur have expressed concern over “heavy millitarisation” in many Naga areas of Manipur, and have condemned what they termed as excessive actions.
The Working Committee of the UNC, in a press note, said it has been watching over sporadic incidences of “military excesses” occurring especially in the villages of Tangkhul Naga community, who have been enduring the brunt of the persistent gun violence.
The UNC said the recent incident of ramming of Talui village check gate and “indiscriminately firing” upon the civilians at Hoomi village is not an isolated case. It said that such actions are a matter of alarming concern, putting the lives of innocent at risk. It demanded immediate booking of all the perpetrators. It also called for prompt and impartial investigation to bring the matter in the limelight of justice. The UNC further demanded that all medical expenses incurred by the victims should be borne by the perpetrators.
The UNC said “the central and state governments must come clean on the ongoing conflict and treat the root causes of all these evils.”
In the same tone, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) expressed condemnation of the reported acts of excessive force perpetrated by Indian Army forces against civilians in Talui and Hoomi Village on April 25. It said such actions carried out against unarmed villagers are not only deeply disturbing but stand as a grave affront to justice, humanity, and democratic responsibility. The ANSAM said the forceful intrusion through the Naga village gate is not merely an act of trespass; but an insult to the dignity, history, and customary sanctity of the Naga people.
It explained that the village gate is not an ordinary structure but a sacred emblem of ancestral authority, cultural identity, and collective honour. “To violate it with force is to wound the very soul of the Naga nation and to show complete disregard for the sentiments of the people”, the ANSAM said. “Particularly condemnable is the reported injury inflicted upon a woman and a man during the course of the operation,” it added.
It further stated that the reported blank firing reveals a “dangerous contempt for civilian life and human dignity.” “The same conduct will not establish peace; they cultivate fear, mistrust, and deeper unrest among the people,” the ANSAM said.
It called upon Indian forces, particularly the Assam Rifles and all concerned authorities to respect the sentiments of the Nagas, honour the sanctity of the Naga village gate, and uphold the dignity and safety of women and citizens at all times.
“Instead of impartial intervention, the Naga Village Guards alone are being targeted,” the ANSAM alleged, and stated that “this selective approach is not merely unfortunate, it is a flagrant injustice, deeply condemnable, and an affront to equity, peace, and constitutional duty.”
The Naga Women Union (NWU) said that continued intimidation and disproportionate actions deepen mistrust. “Such heavy-handed approaches are counterproductive and risk escalating tensions further”, the NWU said.
“The conduct of the law enforcement forces, raises grave concern as reports from various villages indicates instances of intimidation, physical manhandling, and the use of excessive force against women who are peacefully discharging their customary responsibilities to safeguard their villages from the current pattern of attacks by the adversaries,” it said.
The NWU urged the State and Central Governments to immediately address and halt the excessive use of force against Naga women and villagers. It also urged the government to respect and uphold the customary role of Naga women as defenders of their land and people. It asked the government to give “legal punishment” to the offenders of the Talui village incident of April 25 according to the degree of their crimes. Finally, the NWU demanded withdrawal of Assam Rifles in “Naga territory” at the earliest.
