The Eastern Konyak Union (EKU), representing Konyak villages along the India–Myanmar frontier, has made a fresh plea to government authorities, Naga political groups, and civil society, highlighting what it described as escalating distress, “fear and trauma,” and decades of neglect in the border region.
The appeal comes after a four-day public consultative meeting held from November 26 to 29 at Chen Yanching village. The gathering brought together village authorities, student bodies, and civil society organisations from the Eastern Konyak area to examine the situation faced by border residents, according to a statement issued by the union.
The EKU said the consultations were prompted by growing concerns over “harassment and torture of innocent civilians under the pretext of militant activities.” Participants reportedly discussed the impact of armed groups operating in the area, repeated cross-border military actions, and the absence of basic developmental support.
The union alleged that aerial patrols, night operations and bombardment had instilled fear among villagers, citing two incidents in July and October 2025 near Hoyat village that it said deeply unsettled residents.
Calling for restraint from both Indian and Myanmar military forces, the EKU urged authorities to clearly differentiate civilian life from combat operations, stressing that villagers in the region are subsistence farmers “with no enemy to fight.” It warned that continued military activity around settlements was placing non-combatants in danger.
The union also drew attention to the prolonged marginalization of the Eastern Konyak belt, saying border villages had been “red-marked and left outside the scope of development” by successive administrations as well as by Naga organizations.
It recalled that the region once played a significant part in early political dialogues involving Naga groups, but today finds itself labelled a “no man’s land,” worsening the sense of abandonment among locals.
Following the consultative meeting, EKU representatives held discussions with Naga political groups active in the area, communicating the public’s desire to “live freely” without recurring hardships. The union appealed to armed groups to avoid actions that increase pressure on villages and reaffirmed that peace, safety and long-term development must be prioritized.
The EKU further sought support from civil society organizations in Nagaland, asking them to push government authorities to reconsider how security operations are carried out in the border zone. It said Eastern Konyak villagers rely heavily on Nagaland’s schools, hospitals, and markets due to the lack of essential services across the border in Myanmar.
It urged that Eastern Konyak residents be allowed unhindered access to Nagaland for basic requirements, noting the cultural and ancestral ties that connect communities on both sides.
The union also expressed dissatisfaction that some Naga political leaders seem to have overlooked the sacrifices and support extended by Eastern Konyak regions during earlier phases of the Naga movement. It called on leaders to recognize the ongoing suffering of the border population.
Appealing to the Government of India, Naga political organizations, civil society groups, and border authorities, the EKU urged immediate steps to ensure the “safety, dignity, and wellbeing” of civilians and to place peaceful coexistence and development at the forefront of border governance.
