Organisation raises AFSPA concerns, questions official claims and warns against deepening public mistrust in Naginimora-Tizit belt
The Konyak Union (KU) has strongly condemned the joint operation conducted by the 20 Assam Rifles and 166 Territorial Army at Namthai Village under Mon district on the night of April 22, alleging wrongful arrest, intelligence failure and growing public insecurity in the region.
In a press release, the Union claimed that Namthai Village Council Chairman Shaopa Konyak, whom it described as an “innocent and responsible public leader,” was wrongly targeted during the operation.
The organisation termed the arrest “unwarranted” and questioned the credibility of the intelligence inputs that led to the action.
“The Konyak Union strongly denounces the unwarranted arrest of an innocent public leader, terming it a consequence of complete intelligence failure and lack of proper verification,” the statement said.
The Union also raised concerns over the apparent lack of coordination with state law enforcement agencies and Assam Rifles units stationed in Naginimora and Mon, questioning how such an operation was conducted within the area without their prior knowledge.
It further argued that operations carried out under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act without proper coordination risk undermining public trust and institutional credibility.
Expressing concern over what it described as a widening trust deficit between civilians and security forces in the Naginimora–Namthai–Tiru–Tizit belt, the KU warned that such incidents could intensify fear and insecurity among local communities.
Referring to the 2021 Oting killings, in which 14 civilians were killed, the Union cautioned that “reckless and miscalculated operations” risk reopening deep wounds within the Konyak community.
The Union also rejected a security forces press statement issued on April 25 regarding the reported arrest of three ULFA-I cadres in Mon district.
KU claimed there is “no presence of ULFA-I groups operating within Mon District” and alleged that the three individuals had entered the district while attempting to surrender before Assam Police but had mistakenly crossed into Mon due to navigational confusion.
Calling for accountability, transparency and responsible conduct, the Konyak Union urged authorities against making what it termed unverified claims that could damage the image of Mon district and its people.
