In a strongly-worded open letter addressed to Major General Manish Kumar, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North), the Global Naga Forum (GNF) has lodged a formal complaint against an alleged case of unlawful surveillance and infiltration of its private WhatsApp group by Assam Rifles personnel. The letter, signed by GNF officers, accused Major Narendra, posted at Avangkhu, Nagaland, of clandestinely monitoring the group’s conversations for over five months.
The GNF claimed that Major Narendra infiltrated the forum under false pretenses and monitored internal discussions without permission. According to the forum, the officer allegedly forced a group admin, Thongtsumiu, to add him to the WhatsApp group after confiscating his phone during a border crossing on April 24, 2024. When Thongtsumiu refused, citing that the group was exclusively for Naga members, he was allegedly threatened and denied entry into Nagaland.
The GNF, an organization advocating for peace, unity, and human rights, expressed outrage at the violation of their constitutional rights to privacy, free speech, and assembly. The forum stated that such actions by the Assam Rifles personnel are not only unconstitutional but also violate international human rights laws, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In its letter, the GNF asked Major General Kumar to clarify the legal basis for Major Narendra’s actions and to ensure accountability. It demanded that Assam Rifles take immediate punitive action against those responsible and establish safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The GNF also questioned the broader implications of such surveillance on the rights of the Naga people, urging Major General Kumar to take transparent actions to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights.
(Read full text hereAMP)