Ukhrul, April 21: It all began with an X post on April 1, 2025, when an X account named Sophia Naga—who claims to be a Naga from Nagaland, a Naga nationalist, and a human rights activist—burned the Indian national flag with a supposed disclaimer: “Burning the Indian flag is not just an act. It is a statement: ‘We are not Indians. We are Naga.'” The act drew widespread criticism and indignation online, both among Nagas and others.
Some Naga commentators observed that while the intent and the sentiment was to some extend acceptable, her actions were unnecessary.
Sophia Naga took to X, saying, “Why did I burn the Indian flag? Not out of hate—but out of pain. Out of resistance. For 77 years, my people in Nagaland have lived under military boots. We’ve faced rape, torture, fake encounters, and constant fear. The Indian Army—under the protection of AFSPA—has committed countless crimes in our land. We declared independence on 14 August 1947, even before India, yet they crushed us.”
After a gap of exactly 18 days, Sophia Naga returned with another X post, visibly bruised and shaken but resolute, donning a Naga national flag. She claimed that she was assaulted by Indian forces for burning the flag and vowed to continue her protest.
Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, in the early hours of April 21, 2025, responded to Sophia Naga’s X feed with this remark: “Beware! This account is operating from/for Pakistan.”
Sophia Naga was quick to respond to Mohammed Zubair, saying, “Zubair, no matter how much you try to appease by lying, the Sangh will always treat you as an ‘internal threat.'”
Also read | NSUB Elects New Leaders at Parting Social cum Election in Bengaluru
Other X handles known for debunking propaganda and fake news, such as D-Intent Data, analysed the video and stated that it is propaganda. Substantiating its claim, the account remarked: “A video… calling for Nagaland’s independence has been circulated by Pakistani propagandists.” D-Intent Data also added that the video is “aimed at diverting attention from the ongoing protests and human rights violations in Balochistan. The account name Sophia Naga, which posts this content on various social media platforms, was created just five days ago, using random photos of Naga girls. Our investigation reveals that this video is merely propaganda.”
Ukhrul Times verdict
There are several giveaways in the video:
1. Sophia Naga’s English accent: The accent is a giveaway. It is not remotely a Naga English accent. If the video is propaganda, as facts suggest, it is likely “operating out of Pakistan.”
2. Her response to Mohammed Zubair : “The Sangh will always treat you as an ‘internal threat'” – is not a tone or intent a Naga would typically use. Even if a Naga could be or is an established bhakt, Nagas do not engage in mainstream (for lack of a better word) disparaging ideological, sentimental, or political language. Nagas would rather pick a fight man-to-man. No gupshup there.
3. Her high-end manicure is another giveaway, coupled with her claim that “five soldiers from Assam Rifles came at night, broke into her home, beat her mother, and kidnapped her husband…” It is odd that such an “assault” has not been reported by any news outlets in Nagaland, given the seriousness of her allegations. Such incidents, if true, are seldom tolerated by Naga civil bodies.
4. Due to a lack of evidence, it is difficult to determine her nationality, but the character Sophia Naga is likely not a Naga, and the story is most likely a fabrication, given the absence of corroboration from Nagaland, India.