UKHRUL/SENAPATI, July 15: Tension gripped Senapati town on Tuesday night after unverified messages circulated on social media falsely claimed that a confrontation had broken out between the Assam Rifles and the Naga Army near Huthrong Brigade, the Naga Army Headquarters under the jurisdiction of Oklong village. The rumours triggered a large public gathering that later turned violent, resulting in extensive damage to both civilian and Assam Rifles property.
According to reports, messages began circulating at around 9:02 p.m., urging members of the public to assemble at Senapati Traffic Point for “necessary action.” As the crowd grew, protesters marched towards the Assam Rifles Company Operating Base (COB), demanding that the force withdraw from the Oklong area.
According to Army sources, the Assam Rifles had earlier conducted an operation in the Makuilongdi and Oklong areas based on specific intelligence regarding the movement of armed cadres without valid authorisation. During the operation, three individuals were detained for verification.
The sources said the three were later released after their identities were confirmed by the village chairman and they were handed over accordingly. Army officials maintained that troops neither crossed designated boundaries nor violated established operational protocols during the exercise.
While returning from the operation, the troops received information that a large crowd had assembled and was moving towards the Assam Rifles COB in Senapati, the Army said.
According to Army sources, the situation soon turned violent as sections of the crowd allegedly pelted stones at the camp and vandalised government property. An Alto car parked outside the camp and a nearby waiting shed were set on fire during the unrest.
The mob also allegedly overturned two Assam Rifles 407 Canter vehicles and set ablaze an Assam Rifles Bolero Camper, causing significant damage to government property.
Army sources said Assam Rifles personnel exercised considerable restraint despite the escalating violence. Troops reportedly remained inside the camp for much of the incident and initially refrained from using force even as stones were allegedly hurled at the camp and government vehicles were vandalised and torched. Tear gas shells were fired only after the situation escalated and posed a threat to personnel and public property, with the objective of dispersing the crowd and restoring order.
According to the Army, the violence stemmed from a misunderstanding fuelled by unverified WhatsApp messages and other social media posts. The sources said many residents believed there was an ongoing standoff between the Assam Rifles and the Naga Army near Oklong, prompting large numbers of people to gather. The Army maintained that no such confrontation had occurred and that the operation was a routine verification exercise based on specific intelligence inputs. Officials said the rapid spread of unverified information significantly contributed to the escalation.
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The situation was brought under control later in the night. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.
As per representatives of Naga civil society organisations (CSOs), the anger among sections of the youth stemmed from the perception that the Assam Rifles had prioritised operations in an area that had remained peaceful, instead of focusing efforts on bringing those responsible for the killing of six Naga civilians to justice. The CSOs said this perceived shift in focus contributed to public resentment and fuelled the emotional response that preceded the unrest.
