DIMAPUR: Fifteen Nagaland based youth organisations have submitted a joint memorandum to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today seeking “urgent intervention” with the Government of Manipur and the Government of India for ensuring justice to the “six innocent Nagas” killed in Manipur.
The youth organisations include Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO), Dimapur Lotha Youth Organisation (DLYO), Rongmei Youth Club Dimapur, Dimapur Rengma Youth Organisation, Tenyimi Youth Organisation Dimapur, Western Chakhesang Youth Organisation, Western Naga Youth Front, Zeliang Youth Organisation Dimapur, Zeliang Youth Organisation Chümoukedima, and Chakhro Angami Kuda Youth Organisation (CAKYO, DENSU and others.
The memorandum said these youth organisations “humbly submit this memorandum to express our profound grief, deep anguish, and serious concern over the brutal abduction, torture, murder, mutilation of our 6 Naga brothers by armed Kuki militants and their sympathizers and subsequent recovery of the mortal remains in the State of Manipur”.
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The memorandum also said the barbaric nature of this crime has shocked the collective conscience of the Naga people and all right thinking citizens. It also said the inhumane treatment meted out to the victims, whose lives were cruelly cut short, is an affront not only to the principles of humanity but also to the rule of law enshrined in our democratic system. It added that such acts of violence have no place in a civilized society and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
The Naga youth bodies then said the prevailing situation in the state of Manipur continues to remain fragile and volatile. The prolonged unrest has inflicted immense suffering upon innocent civilians, with vulnerable communities often becoming victims of circumstances beyond their control, they also said. It is in this backdrop that the tragic loss of six Naga lives has generated widespread fear, insecurity, and resentment among Naga communities across regions, it stated.
The youth organisations also recalled that the Naga people have consistently demonstrated restraint, maturity, and a commitment to peace even amidst provocation and adversity. “The release of 14 Kuki captives by Naga brethren, following appeals from civil society organizations, church bodies such as the Baptist World Alliance, CBCNEI, was a testament to the Naga people’s unwavering faith in dialogue, reconciliation, and Christian values”, they said, adding, “It reflected our collective desire to foster peace and prevent further escalation of hostilities”.
In this regard, the youth bodies said they placed on record their sincere appreciation for the Nagaland Chief Minister’s timely intervention and leadership in appealing for peace, understanding, and humanitarian consideration as a top Naga leader. “Your efforts in promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence during a highly sensitive period have been acknowledged and appreciated by people across communities”.
However, the subsequent recovery of the bodies of the six Naga victims has deeply shaken public confidence and has raised grave concerns regarding the safety and security of Naga civilians in the conflict affected areas of Manipur, the memorandum mentioned, adding, “Our 6 Naga brothers were killed, their bodies mutilated beyond recognition, pure act of evil incarnate”.
The youth bodies then said the circumstances surrounding the incident, coupled with the accounts narrated by surviving individuals, demand a comprehensive, impartial, and time bound investigation to establish the truth and identify every individual involved in the commission of this heinous crime. “It is appalling that despite the survivor’s account of clear statement that villagers of Leilon Vaiphei in connivance with Kuki militants were behind their abduction, the government has failed to book the culprits and the repeated denial by Kuki CSOs of having no knowledge of the incident speaks of an eerie silent conspiracy behind”, the Naga youth bodies said.
They also said the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice would not only amount to a grave miscarriage of justice but would also embolden anti-social and anti-peace elements who seek to destabilize the region through violence and intimidation. The rule of law can only prevail when crimes of such magnitude are investigated thoroughly and the guilty are held accountable irrespective of their affiliations, influence, or standing, they further said. “The fact that the mortal remains of the 6 victims could only be traced after the release of the 14 Kuki captives clearly points that the state and central agencies have utterly failed the people of Manipur and our fellow Nagas”, they alleged.
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The youth bodies then said they are equally concerned that the continued deterioration of law and order in Manipur has wider implications for the peace and stability of the entire Northeastern region. They further said the geographical proximity and historical ties shared among communities in the region necessitate urgent and decisive measures to prevent the spillover of violence and unrest beyond Manipur’s borders. “It is imperative that adequate security and intelligence mechanisms be put in place to ensure that disruptive elements do not exploit the situation to undermine peace and harmony in Nagaland”, they added.
In view of the foregoing, the Naga youth bodies “earnestly” appealed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland to take up the matter with the Government of Manipur and the Government of India and impress upon them the urgent necessity to ensure a fair, impartial, and expeditious investigation into the abduction, torture, and murder of the six Naga victims, and to dentify, apprehend, and prosecute all individuals responsible for the crime in accordance with the law of the land.
The youth bodies also want the concerned authorities to establish accountability at every level where lapses may have occurred. They also said the concerned authorities should provide adequate protection and security to vulnerable Naga communities residing in conflict affected areas. They also urged the concerned authorities to strengthen border monitoring and security measures to prevent the influx of anti-peace elements into Nagaland and safeguard the peace and stability of the State, and take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents are never repeated.
The Naga youth bodies then said the “continued silence of Kuki civil society organizations and community leaders in Nagaland” over the barbaric killing, mutilation, and targeting of innocent civilians has raised serious concern and apprehension among the Naga people. “At a time when humanity demands an unequivocal condemnation of such heinous atrocities, the absence of any visible expression of solidarity with the victims is both disappointing and disturbing”, they also said. In this regard, the Naga youth bodies “strongly” urged all responsible stakeholders to ensure that no individual or group involved in, supporting, or facilitating acts of violence in Manipur is provided shelter, refuge, or logistical assistance within the state of Nagaland. “We further call upon the Government of Nagaland and its law enforcement agencies to maintain heightened vigilance and strictly monitor the movement and activities of any anti-social or armed elements attempting to enter the State from Manipur, in the interest of preserving peace, security, and communal harmony”, they stated.
The Naga youth bodies then expressed their “deep concern over the perceived partisan conduct and selective approach exhibited by certain central security forces” operating in the conflict affected areas of Manipur. They said such actions have severely eroded public confidence and have only served to aggravate tensions on the ground. The youth bodies further said the primary and non-negotiable duty of every security agency is to protect innocent civilians and uphold the rule of law without fear, favour, or prejudice. “Any deviation from this sacred
responsibility amounts to a grave dereliction of duty and undermines the credibility of the institutions entrusted with maintaining peace”. The youth bodies, therefore, called upon the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to immediately ensure that all security forces discharge their duties with absolute impartiality, professionalism, and accountability, and take stringent action against any personnel found complicit in acts of bias, negligence, or misconduct.
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The Naga youth bodies then said that, while compensation may provide temporary relief to bereaved families, no amount of monetary assistance can substitute the loss of innocent lives. They said true justice can only be achieved when the perpetrators are brought before the law and awarded punishment commensurate with the gravity of their crimes.
“Today, more than ever, Nagas stand united beyond geographical boundaries and political divisions. We remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of our people. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the families of the victims and with every Naga affected by the ongoing turmoil in Manipur”, the Naga youth bodies stated, adding, “We, therefore, urge your esteemed office to accord this matter the highest priority and take all possible steps to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied”.
