MNYO and ANSAM condemn attacks on Naga villages in Manipur, demanding an external aggression designation, high-level investigation, stronger security and justice for victims.
Imphal, Oct. 11: The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) and the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), have strongly condemned the recent attacks on Naga settlements in Manipur, demanding a high-level investigation, stronger security arrangements and decisive action by the governments of India and Manipur.
In separate statements issued on Sunday, the organisations expressed concern over the killings of Naga civilians and village guards, the burning of residential houses and the alleged involvement of armed cadres from across the Myanmar border. The MNYO urged the Centre and the state government to declare the ongoing armed conflict in Manipur a case of external aggression, while ANSAM called for the identification and prosecution of all those responsible for the attacks.
The MNYO said the alleged involvement of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), alongside Kuki armed groups, in attacks around Ningchou and Chassad and the reported violence at Makui Ashang village amounted to external aggression.
The organisation referred to the reported deaths and the beheading of a civilian, describing the incidents as evidence of a serious security threat. It alleged that the involvement of KNA-B was linked to support from Kuki groups within Manipur, although the claim was not independently established in the statement.
The MNYO also recalled earlier incidents that it said pointed to a continuing pattern of violence. These included alleged Buddhist chanting and drumming by KNA-B members before an attack on Sinakeithei Tangkhul village on March 17, 2026, and the reported killing of Khonsakhul civilian captives in May.
The organisation further alleged that highway robberies, assaults and harassment of Naga civilians in Kuki-inhabited areas predated 2025 and could be part of a broader attempt to draw Naga communities into a deeper political and social conflict.
Questioning the response of security forces, the MNYO accused the forces of failing to act adequately despite their intelligence capabilities and equipment. It said the conflict involved political and land-related issues that could not be ignored by either the central or state government.
The organisation warned that a prolonged security crisis in Manipur could also affect India's regional and international interests.
The MNYO acknowledged Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director General of Police Mukesh Singh for deploying state forces to vulnerable areas following requests for intervention.
However, it called for additional personnel in vulnerable locations and along key road stretches, including the Yaingangpokpi-Litan-TM Kasom route and the Kangpokpi-Senapati highway.
The organisation also appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess what it described as a serious threat posed by Kuki armed groups. It referred to the Home Minister's stated objective of eradicating insurgency in the Northeast by 2029.
The MNYO urged the Manipur Chief Minister and Home Minister to withdraw what it described as their denial of KNA-B and external forces' involvement in the unrest. It called on both the Centre and the state government to formally recognise the armed conflict as a case of external aggression.
In a separate statement, ANSAM condemned what it described as calculated attacks against Naga communities on October 9 and 10, allegedly involving KNA-B, Kuki armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement with the Government of India, and Kuki Village Volunteer Eastern Zone (VVEZ).
The association alleged that the attacks were connected to the pursuit of demands for Kukiland, a separate administration or a Union Territory. These allegations and the claimed motives behind the attacks were not independently verified.
ANSAM said four Naga village guards were killed during an armed assault at Makui and Tapon villages in Kangpokpi district on October 10. It identified the deceased as Machungammang Daimai, Dibambou Ringkangmai, Ajinbou R. and Ramningpou Robert Gangmei.
The association said armed cadres allegedly belonging to KNF-P, KNF-N and KRA were involved in the attack. It also reported that two Naga civilians, Mathangambou Chawang and Nashon Pame, sustained critical injuries, while several houses and properties were set on fire.
ANSAM expressed particular concern over the alleged beheading of one victim and said his head remained missing, preventing the family from performing the final rites. It demanded the recovery and return of the remains.
ANSAM also referred to separate attacks reported on October 9 and 10 in Ningchou village and Kamjong headquarters, which it attributed to KNA-B, Kuki armed groups operating under the SoO arrangement and VVEZ.
According to the association, two Naga civilians, Ngachanso Ningshen and Leishisan Leishadang, were killed in an attack at Ningchou. Two civil defence volunteers sustained gunshot injuries, while nine residential houses were reportedly burnt down.
ANSAM described the alleged involvement of KNA-B as a serious national security concern, citing the reported cross-border dimension of the violence.
The association expressed solidarity with the affected Naga communities and bereaved families, saying the attacks had aggravated insecurity among Naga and other indigenous communities in the state.
It said the killing of civilians and village defenders, along with the destruction of homes and churches, should not be normalised or overlooked amid political disputes.
ANSAM also criticised a Manipur Police press release that, according to the association, stated that the overall law-and-order situation had remained normal during the preceding 24 hours.
Questioning that assessment, the association argued that reports of armed attacks, civilian deaths and the burning of homes were incompatible with a declaration of normalcy.
It called on the state and central governments to acknowledge the suffering of affected communities and respond with concrete security measures rather than assurances.
ANSAM urged the Government of Manipur and the Government of India to order an impartial, high-level investigation into the incidents, identify and prosecute the perpetrators, recover the missing victim's remains and establish effective security arrangements for vulnerable Naga settlements.
The association said Naga communities sought justice, protection and the right to live peacefully in their ancestral areas, and called for decisive government action to prevent further violence.
Both organisations urged the authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable areas and ensure accountability for the reported attacks. Their statements come amid continuing concerns over the safety of Naga settlements and the wider security situation in Manipur.
