UKHRUL: The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL-WC) on Saturday announced a blanket ban on security operations in all Tangkhul Naga villages, citing the continued detention of four villagers arrested during a joint security operation earlier this week.
In a press communiqué issued on Saturday, the TNL-WC said the decision came after authorities failed to release the four men despite the expiry of a 24-hour ultimatum issued by the organisation.
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The four arrested have been identified as Wungphayo Kasar (24), A.S. Ninglum (29), Yaoreingam Lungleng (24), and Vareiyo Lungleng (56), all from Sharkaphung village under Litan Police Station. According to the TNL, they were picked up on July 14 during a joint operation involving the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, Punjab Regiment, Madras Regiment and Bihar Regiment. The TNL-WC alleged that the four were falsely implicated as NSCN-IM cadres under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and are currently in judicial custody.
The TNL-WC also accused the security forces of committing human rights violations during the operation. It alleged that school property was vandalised and the sanctity of a religious institution was violated, and demanded that the actions of the personnel involved be reviewed under the law.
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Questioning the conduct of the operation, the organisation said the alleged armed ambush that prompted the search had taken place near the Lungshang River under Hungpung village, about 55 kilometres from the Litan area where the four villagers were detained. It claimed the operation was based on “inaccurate intelligence inputs” and alleged that security agencies had acted on misleading information.
