The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, seeking urgent intervention to ensure justice, accountability and protection of innocent Naga civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in Manipur, particularly in connection with the abduction, torture and killing of six Naga civilians.
The memorandum, submitted through the Governor of Nagaland during a candlelight vigil held in Kohima, also called for a comprehensive review of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement, an independent inquiry into the conduct of security forces in conflict-affected areas, and enhanced protection for Naga villages and civilians.
The Federation said the candlelight vigil represented the collective grief and demand for justice of the Naga people for the six civilians who were allegedly abducted, tortured and killed during the conflict in Manipur.
The memorandum was accompanied by the Federation’s report titled “Report on the Naga-Kuki Conflict in Manipur: Findings of the Naga Students’ Federation Reconnaissance and Solidarity Mission to Southern Nagalim, Manipur,” which documented observations made during a reconnaissance and solidarity mission conducted from June 4 to 6.
According to the NSF, the mission assessed the humanitarian and security situation in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur through interactions with affected families, village authorities, churches, student bodies, youth volunteers, civil society organisations and other community representatives.
The Federation stated that the mission found that the prolonged conflict had severely affected civilian life in several Naga-inhabited areas, with communities facing insecurity, displacement, restrictions on movement, destruction of property and disruption of livelihoods.
Referring to the killing of the six Naga civilians, the NSF stated that they were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13. It said humanitarian efforts involving Naga civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders were undertaken to secure their safe release. However, their bodies were recovered on June 10, an incident which the Federation said had caused profound grief among the families of the victims and the wider Naga community.
In the memorandum, the NSF demanded an independent, impartial and time-bound investigation into the abduction, captivity, torture and killing of the six civilians, with those responsible brought to justice through due process.
It also sought a comprehensive investigation into all incidents involving killings, abductions, attacks on civilians, destruction of property and displacement arising from the conflict.
The Federation further called for a review of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement in view of what it described as concerns over continued armed activities and violations during the conflict. It also sought an independent inquiry into the conduct, neutrality and operational role of security forces in conflict-affected areas.
Among its other demands, the NSF sought immediate measures to protect Naga villages, civilian populations and ancestral lands, action against illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking and illicit arms proliferation, and measures to ensure safe and unrestricted movement of civilians along National Highway-202 and other strategic routes.
The Federation appealed to the President to intervene to ensure justice for victims, accountability for those responsible, protection of civilians and restoration of lasting peace in Manipur through dialogue, justice and respect for the rights and dignity of all affected communities.
