UKHRUL: The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has condemned and opposed the recent order issued by the District Administration of Kamjong District directing all licensed arms holders to surrender their firearms and demanded that the order be retracted and revoked immediately.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, TNL stated that the civilians in Kamjong headquarters and other vulnerable villages are living under constant fear due to the presence and activities of illegal Kuki militants, while condemning the district administration for choosing to disarm law-abiding citizens.
Also Read | 2 Civilians Injured in Suspected Kuki Militants’ Attack at Sharkaphung; TNFO Seeks Immediate Intervention
“At a time when the region continues to face grave security challenges from illegal Kuki militants, this order reflects a serious disconnect from the realities on the ground. Civilians in Kamjong headquarters and other vulnerable villages are living under constant fear due to the presence and activities of illegal Kuki militants. Instead of taking decisive action to neutralize these threats and restore confidence among the public, the administration has chosen to disarm law-abiding citizens,” it stated.
Stating that forcing citizens to surrender the arms without guaranteeing their safety effectively leaves them exposed to attack from Kuki militants, TNL said disarming lawful citizens in the face of ongoing threats puts their lives at “immediate risk”, particularly when there is no visible or commensurate effort to disarm militant groups who continue to operate with impunity.
Also Read | TNL Questions GoM’s Actions Over Ukhrul Village Attacks, KZC Talks
The right to self-defense is fundamental. Licensed arms are regulated under the law and are not instruments of aggression but of survival in extraordinary circumstances, TNL stated, while adding that licensed firearms, including SBBL rifles, are legally owned and serve as the only means of self-defense for many innocent villagers in remote areas where state protection is limited or delayed.
It further stated that the order appears not only “ill-timed” but also counterproductive to the goal of restoring peace and stability.
“Peace cannot be restored by weakening the ability of innocent civilians to protect themselves while the actual sources of violence remain unaddressed,” it stated.
It demanded the District Administration of Kamjong to immediately retract and revoke the order and to instead prioritize effective action against the illegal armed groups perpetrating the violence at Kamjong Headquarters.
Also Read | Tangkhul Naga Bodies Condemn Attack on Naga Villagers; AR Hand in Glove with Kuki Militants, says TNL