The United Naga Council has strongly condemned the reported bombing of a Naga village at Awontang in the Kamjong Headquarters by the Assam Rifles and unbecoming of a force that claims to be the ‘Friends of the Hill People’. UNC also equally condemned the burning of Pilong and Skipe by KNA-B, a Kuki militant from across the border on 18 October 2026.
The press statement of UNC reads, “the United Naga Council expresses its strongest condemnation and profound outrage over the heinous and coordinated attacks on Naga villages in Kamjong Areas. The council is shocked that on 17th October 2026, while there was an exchange of firing between the Kuki National Army – Burma (KNA-B), the Burma-based Kuki militants, and Naga village volunteers at the Kamjong area, the Assam Rifles resorted to indiscriminate bombing at Awontang, thereby terrorizing innocent Naga civilians and aiding the aggressors. The council takes strong exception over the reckless and irresponsible activities of the section of the Assam Rifles in Naga areas.
“The reported bombing of a Naga village at Awontang in the Kamjong by the Assam Rifles is outrageous, condemnable, and unbecoming of a force that claims to be the ‘Friends of the Hill People. Instead of protecting lives and maintaining law and order, the Assam Rifles has been creating all kinds of problems in the area, especially in the Kamjong area, harassing villagers, and now resorting to indiscriminate shelling/bombing of civilian-inhabited areas. This is a grave violation of human rights.
“We are also deeply anguished to learn that KNA-B Kuki militants from across the border torched and completely burnt down Naga villages Pilong and Skipe, rendering hundreds of Naga villagers homeless on October 18, 2026. This is a clear act of cross-border invasion and ethnic cleansing.
“Further, the council seriously questions and condemns the abduction of Mr. N. Chithung, member of Naga Village Guard and a resident of Kangpat Khullen village, by the 11 Assam Rifles, Kamjong while he was defending his own village from external aggression carried out by the KNA-B & VVEZ and brutally tortured him in custody sustaining serious injuries and severe cut on his head from rifle butt. This incident is not isolated. It only shows a stark reality that when Nagas are attacked by the kukis, Assam Rifles attacks the Nagas.
“This sequence of events compels the UNC to seriously question-Is there a nexus between the Kukis and the Assam Rifles? Why were KNA-B allowed to intrude and attack Naga villages while Assam Rifles bombed Naga volunteers who were defending their ancestral land? Such cross-border aggression by foreign-based armed groups under the covert support of a state actor with the intent to grab Naga ancestral land and terrorize innocent villagers cannot be tolerated and a matter of great concern. We seek immediate intervention by the Government of India to secure the lives and properties and ensure the safety of its citizens.
“The council observes with serious concern that both these incidents expose the complete security lapses of the state government in the said border areas and a total lack of adequate state forces on the ground. The remote border villages have been left to fend for themselves, making them vulnerable to attacks by foreign-based militant groups on one hand and high-handedness and diabolical policy of central forces on the other. The absence of sufficient state police and the failure to deploy adequate state forces in Skipe, Awontang, and the entire Kamjong border belt have created a security vacuum. The state government cannot abdicate its primary responsibility of protecting its own citizens.
‘The Council has seriously viewed and questioned the abrupt transfer of the Superintendent of Police, Kamjong, Shri Tholu Rocky, MPS, vide Order No. TP-5/2/2026-DP-DP reportedly following the wild and unsubstantiated allegations leveled by Mrs. Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, wife of a Kuki militant commander, and her family, who are allegedly associated with various criminal activities. Such an act of denigrating a sincere and devoted officer is highly condemnable and unfortunate. This amounts to discrimination and character assassination of a devoted police officer merely because he belongs to a particular community. The concerned authority should thoroughly verify the facts that led to this abrupt decision and rescind the transfer order until the officer is proven guilty through due process”.
The UNC therefore demands:
1. Immediate removal of the Assam Rifles from Naga areas, especially from the Kamjong area, and replacement by any other neutral forces like Border Security Forces.
2. Immediate deployment of adequate state forces and strengthening of state police outposts in all vulnerable Naga villages along the Indo-Myanmar border.
3. The state authority should reconsider and rescind the transfer order of SP Kamjong.
“The UNC will not remain a silent spectator to the systematic targeting of Naga villages either by external militants or by state forces. The council once again appeals to all Naga people to remain vigilant and stands united, transcending all rifts and differences” added the press statement issued by H. James Hau, Information & Publicity Secretary, UNC.
