UKHRUL: Several Zeliangrong civil society organisations, including the Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Nagaland (ZSUN), the Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Delhi (ZSUD), and the Zeliangrong Youth Front, Nagaland (ZYFN), have condemned Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet for using the colonial misnomer “Kacha Naga” in his 25 June 2026 press conference statement. They also stated that the remarks were “derogatory, irresponsible, and deeply provocative,” and a direct affront to the entire Naga people.
The bodies noted that the Zeliangrong and wider Naga community remain in deep mourning over the killing of six Naga civilians in Leilon Vaiphei, a Kuki village within ancestral Naga territory. They further alleged that the victims were subjected to unspeakable torture, mutilation, and merciless killing.
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“This atrocity is not merely a crime against six individuals but a calculated assault on the dignity, security, and collective existence of the Naga people in their own homeland. The perpetrators must be identified, apprehended, and punished in full accordance with the rule of law. There can be no peace, reconciliation, or normalcy until justice is delivered,” they said.
The organisations argued that the KZC Chairman’s statement is neither a genuine apology nor an admission of the unlawful and inhumane crime committed. Instead, they said, it challenges and insults the Naga people and reflects arrogance and a sense of supremacy. Further, they stressed that justice cannot be replaced by rhetoric or symbolic gestures, and that no statement can be seen as credible or sincere until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Describing the term “Kacha Naga” as wholly unacceptable, historically untenable, and profoundly offensive, the bodies stated that the Zeliangrong are proud Nagas who identify by their rightful names and heritage. “‘Kacha Naga’ has never been our self-designation. It is a colonial-era misclassification, born of administrative ignorance and imperial convenience, weaponised to demean and delegitimise Naga identity, history, and dignity,” the bodies remarked.
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They added that its deliberate use in a public forum by a senior civil society leader, especially after such a brutal crime, reveals a troubling persistence of prejudice and communal disdain. “Far from showing remorse, this pejorative and concocted term amounts to a direct challenge to the identity, history, and dignity of the Naga people,” they stated.
The organisations urged the Manipur and Central governments to act with urgency and seriousness, and to ensure that those responsible for the abduction, torture, mutilation, and killing of the six Naga civilians are punished according to law without delay. also called on all Naga organisations, churches, and civil society groups to respond with firmness and unity, warning that silence or half-measures in the face of such disrespect will only embolden further insults to Naga identity.
They also urged the Government of India and relevant authorities to expunge the term “Kacha Naga” from all official documents, records, websites, and communications, and to adopt accurate and respectful terminology. Media platforms were likewise urged to refrain from using the term.
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Furthermore, the ZYFN demanded an unequivocal apology from the KZC Chairman, warning that failure to do so would make him solely responsible for any consequences that may arise. “ZYFN will not tolerate further attempts to demean our people or distort our history,” it said. The body described reports of the victims’ bodies being dismembered and subjected to cannibalistic acts as a “satanic act against humanity.”
“To speak of ‘Kacha Nagas’ while our brothers suffered such brutality is an insult to their memory. The fact that 14 Kuki hostages were released unconditionally and treated with utmost respect by our side only underscores the injustice and barbarism we have witnessed,” it said, and further argued that calling the killings a “great mistake” and expressing regret are wholly inadequate.
“You have acknowledged the act but failed to apologise with the respect owed to our community. Instead of de-escalating tensions, you have chosen to double down on provocative language, blaming groups like NSCN (IM) and ZUF (K) without evidence. You cannot apologise for a ‘mistake’ while simultaneously justifying it with hateful rhetoric,” it added.
