Several Naga organisations have strongly condemned an incident that reportedly took place at Waphong Inthan Naga village in Haochong Sub-Division, Tamenglong district, where personnel of the Assam Rifles allegedly opened fire and dismantled bunkers set up by local volunteers.
In separate statements, the Foothills Naga Co-ordination Committee (FNCC), Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) and All Inpui Students’ Union (AISU) alleged that the security personnel targeted a volunteer camp established by villagers to safeguard their land and community.
The Foothills Naga Co-ordination Committee stated that the alleged firing and destruction of a bunker constructed by local volunteers amounted to intimidation and a violation of the dignity and rights of the Naga people. The committee also said that such actions undermine the spirit of the ongoing Naga peace process and contradict the intent of the Framework Agreement aimed at achieving a lasting political settlement.
The committee demanded a thorough and impartial inquiry into the incident and urged the Government of India and its security forces to respect the customary land rights and dignity of the Naga people. It also called for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Naga areas and withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Naga-inhabited regions to prevent further incidents.
The Senapati District Students’ Association also condemned the dismantling of village bunkers, gates and signboards, which it said had been erected by villagers to protect the community from outsiders and potential threats. According to the association, the reported firing of live rounds created panic among residents and raised serious concerns regarding the safety of civilians.
The association further expressed concern over what it described as a perceived lack of neutrality by the Assam Rifles during the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, urging the force to maintain impartiality in protecting all communities. It appealed to the Government of India to remove the Assam Rifles from Naga ancestral lands, stating that their presence had created fear and mistrust among local residents.
Meanwhile, the Joint Tribe Students’ Association, a conglomeration of several tribal student bodies including the All Inpui Students’ Union, Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi Manipur, Rongmei Naga Students’ Organization Manipur and Zeme Students’ Organization Manipur, alleged that Assam Rifles personnel destroyed bunkers built by village guards and seized belongings of Naga volunteers.
The association claimed that several rounds of ammunition were fired towards the village late Tuesday night, which it said caused panic among the villagers. It further alleged that the action appeared selective, noting that similar bunkers in other areas had remained untouched.
The All Inpui Students’ Union also expressed strong condemnation of the incident, stating that volunteers stationed at Waphong Inthan were peacefully guarding their ancestral land when the alleged firing and bunker demolition took place. The union said the incident had created tension in the area and questioned the rationale behind targeting volunteers.
The union demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident and urged authorities to ensure accountability. It also reiterated calls for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Naga-inhabited areas and the removal of Assam Rifles from such regions.
All the organisations urged the authorities to address the matter with seriousness and take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents, warning that actions perceived as provocative could further affect peace and stability in the region.