ANSAM Defends Naga Rights, Slams Govt Over Criminalisation of Student Movements

Senapati, June 12: The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), in their press release on Thursday, stated that they stand firm in defending the legitimate rights of the people, while also stating their support for the non-cooperation movement of the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA).

The release stated that the commitment of the ANSAM, and its position on the People’s Movement remains steadfast in defending the legitimate rights of its people, their ancestral land, and unique history. It asserted that the series of democratic agitations launched by the people, particularly on the 2nd and 3rd of June, 2025, against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the imposed border fencing construction in Naga areas, have been unequivocally substantiated and registered on various occasions—expressing the concern and desire to live as one people, and for an early political settlement between the Government of India and the Naga people based on the 3rd August 2015 Framework Agreement. This agreement recognizes the Flag, Constitution, and Integration of all the Naga areas as inalienable rights of the Nagas.

Also read | Tata Group Announces ₹1 Crore Ex-Gratia for Families of AI-171 Victims

The denialism and depoliticisation by the Government of India of the Naga people’s movement in voicing their inherent rights—having international legal legitimacy as declared by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007 under Article 36—and the assertion to safeguard the age-old established practices and social customs of the Nagas, has exposed the frailty of governance and failure to uphold democratic principles on the part of the mighty India before the world.

Whereas the 48-hour office picketing, as part of the people’s movement and democratic expression of the Nagas, had taken place peacefully in all the hill districts except in Senapati District, an unintended episode occurred as a consequence of the reckless and unnecessary provocation made by the law enforcement agency at the behest of the SP and Addl. SP (L&O) of Senapati District. The association termed such chilling and biased attitude of the authorities at the helm of the district administration as tantamount to irreverence toward the people’s sentiment and a challenge to the rights of the Nagas. Such unruly behavior and distasteful acts by public servants contradict the system, lack professionalism, and undermine the values of democratic governance, which is not at all acceptable and demands befitting action from the concerned authority, the release mentioned.

While reaffirming the stance of the Association to continue striding ahead with the people’s movement until the Nagas achieve their demands for the reinstatement of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and immediate stoppage of the imposed border fencing construction by the Government of India in Naga Homeland, the office of ANSAM expressed its resolute solidarity with the plea of the Senapati District Students’ Association against the Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) of Senapati District, and shall stand in chorus with the decision of SDSA for the non-cooperation movement against the said officers for disrespecting the rights and hurting the sentiment of the people. In the event of any untoward incident, the apex student body stated that the Government should be held fully responsible, the release stated.

The Association also stated that it is astounded by the outrageous and illogical lodging of an FIR against the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), Maram Students’ Union (MKS), Mao Students’ Union (MSU), Poumai Naga Students’ Union (PNTM), Thangal Students’ Union (TAJ), and Zeliarong Students’ Union–Senapati Zone (ZSU-SZ). ANSAM termed such action a direct challenge to the conscience of the Naga people and said the systemic approach of the Government to criminalize the people’s conscience is repressive in nature. The apex student body condemned the autocratic action of the Senapati District Police Department in no uncertain terms and vowed to fight to the end for their rights. Once again, the student body questioned the sagacity and personal interest of the authorities at the helm of the Senapati District Police Department—especially the SP and Addl. SP (L&O)—for having the audacity to lodge the FIR and level IPC sections against ANSAM and SDSA, the collective conscience and voice of the Naga students and youth in Manipur and Senapati.

Also read | Doctor’s Obsession With Cousin Sister Leads to Ex Boyfriend’s Murder in Tripura

ANSAM calls upon all right-thinking organizations and concerned parties to condemn such a heinous act of criminalizing students and civil bodies for voicing the rights of the people.

All the constituent and subordinate units of the Association and the Naga populace have been cautioned to remain steadfast and roll up their sleeves for any eventuality, ANSAM stated.