TNL denounces Kamjong disarmament order, says move endangers civilians vulnerability and shields militants

Special Correspondent
Ukhrul March 25:
The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Working Committee has strongly condemned and opposed the recent directive issued by the District Administration of Kamjong ordering all licensed arms holders to surrender their firearms, terming the move “dangerous, ill-timed, and disconnected from ground realities.”
In a sharply worded statement, TNL expressed grave concern that the order comes at a time when Kamjong district continues to face serious security threats from illegal Kuki militant groups. It pointed out that residents of Kamjong headquarters and surrounding vulnerable villages are living under constant fear due to the continued presence and activities of armed militants.
The organization criticized the administration for, instead of neutralizing these threats and restoring public confidence, choosing to disarm law-abiding citizens who rely on licensed firearms for self-defense. TNL highlighted that many villagers in remote areas possess legally sanctioned weapons such as SBBL rifles, which serve as their only line of protection in the absence of timely state security intervention.
“Disarming innocent civilians without guaranteeing their safety is tantamount to exposing them to immediate danger,” the statement asserted, adding that there has been no visible or proportionate effort to disarm militant groups operating with impunity.
TNL further warned that such unilateral decisions risk eroding public trust in governance and create a perception that lawful citizens are being penalized while the real perpetrators of violence remain unchecked. It emphasized that the right to self-defense is fundamental, particularly under extraordinary circumstances where security forces are either limited or delayed.