UKHRUL: The All Inpui Students’ Union (AISU) has strongly condemned an incident reported on Wednesday morning at Waphong Inthan Naga Village, where personnel of the Indian Army, specifically the Assam Rifles, allegedly fired upon a camp of local volunteers and destroyed a bunker in the village.
In a statement, AISU expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that the volunteers stationed at the village were guarding and protecting their ancestral land and community. The union alleged that the firing and destruction of the bunker amounted to intimidation and harassment of civilians and volunteers who were safeguarding the interests and land of the Naga people. The incident, it said, has created panic and tension in the area and reflects disregard for the rights and dignity of the Naga community.
AISU also questioned the rationale behind the reported action by the security forces, noting that the Naga people and the Government of India had previously entered into the Naga Framework Agreement aimed at resolving the long-standing political issue through peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding. According to the union, incidents of this nature contradict the spirit of that understanding and risk undermining trust between the Naga people and the Government of India.
The student body stated that targeting volunteers who are guarding Naga areas could provoke unrest and complicate the already fragile peace process in the region.
In response to the incident, AISU has demanded that authorities conduct a thorough inquiry and hold those responsible accountable. The union also urged the Government of India to respect the rights, land, and dignity of the Naga people.
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Additionally, AISU called for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Naga-inhabited areas, stating that such laws enable intimidation and harassment of civilians. It further demanded the removal of Assam Rifles personnel from Naga-inhabited areas to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The union stated that it stands in solidarity with the people and volunteers defending their land and warned that acts of provocation and intimidation could deepen resentment and disturb peace in the region. AISU also urged authorities to treat the matter with seriousness and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
