New Delhi: Four Nagas died in a cross-border attack in Manipur’s Kamjong district near the Indo-Myanmar border Thursday afternoon, the Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (WC-TNL) has said in a statement. Two days ago, at least 41 Naga houses were set ablaze in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs Friday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in Manipur which will be in effect for six months from October 1, 2026, unless withdrawn earlier. The MHA notification observed Manipur as a “disturbed state”. However, AFSPA is not extended to 13 police stations including Imphal, Parompat, Thoubal, etc.
MHA has also reviewed and thereafter declared 9 districts and 21 police stations in 5 districts of Nagaland as “disturbed areas” for six months in effect from October 1.
A senior officer from the district of Kamjong confirmed the alleged killing of four Nagas in a cross border violence, however, he refused to divulge details.
The Naga organisation alleged that the members of the Kuki National Army Burma (NSA-B) and Kuki militants backed by the Myanmar-based People’s Defence Force (PDF) carried out the attack. “A Kuki terror group armed heavily with sophisticated weapons crossed the Namya River from Phailen Kuki village of Myanmar and launched a violent attack on Pilong civilians,” the WC-TNL alleged.
According to the statement, two residents were shot dead near the village, while two others were allegedly taken to adjoining Phailen and killed by the attackers. The organisation identified the deceased as Vareishim Jajo, Betterson Jajo, Phami Jajo and Ningthem Kashak.
Reacting to the incident, former chief minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh condemned the killing of four Tangkhul Naga civilians near Pilong village in Kamjong district and termed it “a matter of grave concern”.
“The victims, Phami Jajo, Ningthem Kashak, Betterson Jajo and Vareishim Jajo, were civilians who deserved to live without fear. It is especially heartbreaking as Phami and Vareishim Jajo were father and son. I also express my concern for Akhan Kaping of Ukhrul, who survived the attack,” he said.
“Such attacks and incidents of violence originating from across the border are not new. Border guarding must be professional, vigilant and strengthened, with security personnel stationed effectively along the actual border line, as is done in several stretches of the India-Bangladesh border in Assam, West Bengal and Tripura. The Government of India must accord greater attention to the Indo-Myanmar border, particularly in view of the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military authorities and armed resistance groups,” his post on social media platform X read.
Condemning the acts of violence, Lun Kipgen, spokesperson of the Kuki Group Committee on Tribal Unity, said the Kukis in Manipur have no connection with the violence. “The cross-border violence might be perpetuated by Myanmar groups, which have no connection with us. This is a false narrative,” Kipgen told ThePrint.
Two days ago, in a 12-hour long spell of violence, at least 41 houses belonging to Naga residents and churches were burnt in Kangpokpi district’s Makui area in Manipur. Seventeen houses were razed in Makui Chamriupui, eight in Makui Thanamba, 16 in Makui Thebram and several other houses were also burnt in Naga villages Langka, Thanamba, Kapningching, Tajeikaiphun.
The Makui Village Authority condemned the incident, calling it a “direct attempt to wipe out Liangmai Nagas from the IT Road area” and grab ancestral land. It also further alleged that the latest violence was connected with the attack on 27 August, in which four villagers from the Makui area were reportedly killed in an ambush between Makui Ashang and Thanamba.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)