The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) strongly condemns the excesses of Assam Rifles (ARs) perpetrated against the innocent Tangkhul Naga civilians at various locations of Ukhrul District on the 7th of June 2026.
In a series of fateful incidents at New Haven, Finch Corner and Shokvao village on Sunday, the troops of Assam Rifles unleashed a violent confrontation against the women folks from different Tangkhul villages who were staging a democratic protest against the unauthorised military outpost being setup at New Haven, which is reportedly under the jurisdiction of Shokvao village. The women were demanding the AR jawans to vacate the site as no prior consent was taken from the concerned village authorities.
Many people including elderly women and student activists were hurt in a series of violence committed by the Assam Rifles at New Haven, Finch Corner and Shokvao village. The ARs fired multiple rounds from automatic rifles, lobbed teargas canisters and lathi-charged against the innocent and peaceful women protesters at different sites of incident. Despicably, at Finch Corner the Commander of the Assam Rifles’ 40 Shangshak Battalion-Col. Sunil Singh Lunthi personally led the lathi charge against the womenfolk. The injured were rushed Ukhrul District Hospital for emergency treatment, while some are in critical condition. Currently, over 22 injured womenfolk are being treated at Ukhrul District Hospital.
The conduct of Assam Rifles on Sunday was totally uncalled for and truly unbecoming of a professional paramilitary force, which is considered as the oldest military organisation in India. The instances today and the manner in which the AR personnel dealt with the civilians and women in particular, spoke volumes of their hypocrisy of their ubiquitous slogan “Friends of the Hill People.” Probably, the ARs are friends of the Kuki people.
The press release issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL added “Today’s incident and the many in the past have led us to raise this uncomfortable question-Is Manipur and India in general under the military rule? Where are the people’s representatives or the popular government?”
