IMPHAL: The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) categorically condemned the “bomb attack at New Heaven village and the concurrent firing at civilian vehicles by Kuki militants since 3 am on Thursday at TM Kasom”, and the incessant attacks at Sinakeithei since late February. The Tangkhul Naga Long said “this biased and indifferent treatment meted out by the Indian security forces is appalling so to say the least”.
On April 24, a single individual named Mercy Khongsai, Education secretary of Kuki Student Organisation (KSO) Ukhrul, was escorted by Mahar Regiment/BSF into Mullam, while numerous demands by Sinakeithei to provide more security forces at Sinakeithei have fallen on deaf ears, alleged the Tangkhul body. It also said an alleged combing operation at Lungter, where “Kuki terrorists” have made their stronghold for their onslaught against Sinakeithel, was carried out by the Kangpokpi Police along with the security forces on April 28, 2026. On that very evening, Sinakeithei came under attack by Kuki militants, it also said. “How can we, then, trust the central security forces that their intentions are to bring order?”, the TNL asked.
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On too many occasions, according to the TNL, the central security forces have wielded their power to harass women and mothers protecting their land and destroying civilian defense shelters instead of using their powers to deal with the “true aggressors” (Kuki militants, SoO and non-SoO groups).
The TNL then said that numerous incidents that have transpired in the last two months in Ukhrul have all but proven one thing that the central security forces have betrayed the trust of the Naga civilians. “As such, multiple demands have been made for the central security forces to be replaced by the state forces. These demands and grievances have not been heeded nor acknowledged, clearly hinting at the dishonesty of the central government and the MHA in handling the burning issue”, it added.
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According to the Tangkhul body, on April 29, 2026, an order for a joint area domination/combing operation was issued by the SP, Ukhrul wherein 4TH Mahar Rgt., BSF and Litan Police were tasked for the same. “However, the operation is being carried out without the presence of police forces while the Assam Rifles, who were not tasked with the operation, lead the same today at Shongphel, Mullam and Ringul”, it pointed out, adding, “With such illegal operations that goes beyond the issued order, the trust deficit of the Naga civilians against the central security forces is further aggravated”. The Tangkhul body then said, “While our apprehensions and suspicions on the sincerity of the Assam Rifles remain unanswered, the same force is being utilized by the MHA to continue harassing innocent Nagas”.
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Another big question on the possibility of alleged corroboration between the central security forces and the Kuki militants is raised as Kuki militant hubs (both SoO and non-SoO groups) of Mullam, Shongphel, and adjoining Kuki villages are being used as transit camps by the security forces, said the TNL. “It has become unmistakably clear that the security forces under the MHA are openly waging a war against Naga civilians using their proxy SoO Kuki militants”, it added.