A member of the Naga Village Guard (NVG) was killed and five others injured during a gunfight involving a CoBRA unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Bitiang village in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday.
The New Indian Express reported that the CoBRA team had launched an operation at Bitiang village, leading to the gunbattle. Two of the injured were reportedly CRPF personnel.
The NVG-Eastern Command confirmed the death of one of its members and said three other guards were injured during what it described as an “armed assault” by the CoBRA unit and the Zeliangrong United Front-Jenchui (ZUF-J). The organisation alleged that the ZUF-J had colluded with security forces and accused it of “spilling the blood of own brethren.”
The NVG said its members stationed at Bitiang had been maintaining a defensive line against Kuki militants and alleged narco-terrorists following the killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians at Leilon Vaiphei, whose mutilated bodies were recovered on June 10.
It questioned the rationale behind the operation against what it described as civilian volunteers guarding Naga villages in the absence of adequate state protection.
The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council-Manipur (JTC-Manipur) also condemned what it called an “unprovoked and cowardly attack” on NVG members. It alleged that the guards were targeted while protecting their ancestral land and families.
The committee described the incident as “state-sponsored terrorism” and warned of a shutdown of national highways, railway services and national projects in certain Naga areas.
It said the shutdown would continue until the Central government took decisive action against those involved, ceased what it called hostile operations against Naga villages and restored justice. (With inputs from TNIE)
NSCN/GPRN condemns attack on Naga Village Guard in Bitiang
The NSCN/GPRN has condemned what it described as an “unprovoked attack” on volunteers of the Western Command of the Naga Village Guard and the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) while they were defending Bitiang village on July 29.
In a statement issued through its Ministry of Information & Publicity (MIP) from Hebron on Wednesday, the NSCN/GPRN claimed that the attack resulted in the killing of a Naga Village Guard.
Describing the incident as a “grave and unacceptable assault” on the indigenous Naga community’s right to security and protection, the group alleged that the operation was carried out by the Zeliangrong United Front (Jiangchui) in collusion with CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The NSCN/GPRN further criticised what it described as the “apparent alignment” of Indian security forces with armed groups, stating that such an association undermines the neutrality and accountability of the Indian security establishment.
The NSCN/GPRN expressed condolences to the family of the deceased Village Guard and mourned his death, describing him as a “brave Martyr” who died protecting his village and community.
