“Highly questionable why the church premises became the target of a military raid”
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has condemned what it described as a late-night raid by the Assam Rifles at Samziuram Baptist Church and the residence of the pastor in Peren district.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NBCC expressed “deep concern” over the incident, which it said took place around 11 pm on March 9.
“The NBCC is deeply concerned about the Assam Rifles’ late-night raid on Samziuram Baptist Church and the pastor’s residence in Peren District around 11 pm on March 9, 2026. As reported, the behavior of the jawans towards the church workers was a terrifying ordeal,” the statement said.
The council termed the alleged entry of armed personnel into the church compound as “unthinkable and unacceptable,” stating that the search and warning issued to church workers inside the premises amounted to intimidation.
“It is both unthinkable and unacceptable for the Army jawans to search, threaten and warn the church workers inside the church compound. The raid is a direct violation and an act of desacralizing the sanctity of the whole Christian Church,” it stated.
The NBCC further said that the entry of armed personnel into a place of worship without a warrant or justifiable emergency constituted “a severe violation of sacred space.”
Referring to the motto of the Assam Rifles as the “Friends of the Hill People,” the council said the incident appeared to contradict that claim.
“The Naga culture and religion are not alien to the Assam Rifles or are they unaware about how the church functions in Nagaland,” the statement said and added it was “highly questionable why the church premises became the target of a military raid”.
The council also called upon the district administration and higher authorities to look into the matter with “utmost concern and urgency.”
“If the Assam Rifles considers the church as a space for breeding violence, insurgency and anti-nationalism, we ask for clear explanation and evidence from their intelligence command,” the NBCC stated.
The council also referred to past incidents involving church workers during the years of conflict in the region. It mentioned that on April 16, 1956, a field evangelist of the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council, Pelesatuo Chase, was allegedly killed by security forces at Chakhabama.
The NBCC demanded a formal apology from those responsible for the incident and sought assurance from the Assam Rifles that such incidents would not occur in the future.
The council also extended prayers to the church workers affected by the incident.
The statement was issued by Rev Dr Mar Pongener, General Secretary, and Dr. Villo Naleo, Secretary, Social Concern, NBCC.