The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has expressed profound outrage over the abduction, torture, murder and alleged desecration of six Naga men from Konsakhul Naga Village, whose mortal remains were recovered on June 10 after they were reportedly abducted from Leilon Vaiphei Village on May 13.
In a statement, the Federation accused Kuki militants, village volunteers and leaders of carrying out the crime and described the incident as one of the most horrific atrocities witnessed during the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
According to NSF, the victims were allegedly subjected to prolonged torture before being mercilessly killed, while their bodies were mutilated and dismembered. The Federation said the brutality inflicted upon the victims was beyond human comprehension and reveal “a level of savagery that strikes at the very core of our shared humanity, beyond human dignity, cultural values and the fundamental principles of humanity itself.”
“The torture and desecration of the victims’ bodies reveal a deliberate intent to humiliate, terrorize and dehumanize the entire Naga community,” the Federation stated, adding that such acts could not be justified under any circumstances or excused in the name of ethnic, political or territorial conflict.
Describing the perpetrators’ actions as among the darkest manifestations of human cruelty, NSF warned that the incident reflected a dangerous normalization of violence and impunity that has engulfed Manipur over the past three years.
The Federation said the abduction of civilians, their prolonged disappearance, torture, execution and mutilation exposed a complete absence of accountability and highlighted the failure of authorities to deliver justice.
Holding Kuki militant groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India “absolutely accountable” for the killings, NSF also blamed both the Government of Manipur and the Government of India for failing to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law.
“Despite repeated assurances, extensive security operations and the deployment of thousands of central security personnel across the state, innocent civilians continue to be abducted, tortured, murdered and subjected to unspeakable atrocities,” the Federation stated.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Questioning the effectiveness of the security apparatus, NSF asked how such a gruesome crime could occur in a state heavily saturated with security forces and why, after more than three years of violence, there remained an alarming absence of convictions against those responsible for killings, disappearances and widespread human rights violations.
The Federation also expressed concern over what it termed the partisan conduct, selective intervention and failure of certain security agencies operating in conflict-affected areas.
Extending condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Konsakhul Naga Village, NSF said it stood in unwavering solidarity with them during their time of grief.
“No family should ever have to endure the anguish of witnessing their loved ones subjected to such unimaginable cruelty,” it said.
The Federation demanded that both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur publicly explain the circumstances that allowed the atrocity to occur despite the extensive deployment of security forces in the state.
It further called for an immediate, impartial and time-bound investigation into the case, warning that failure to ensure justice could push the conflict closer to a full-scale civil war among communities in Manipur.
NSF demanded that every individual involved in the crime be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law. It also reiterated its demand for the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) regime, alleging that numerous atrocities and human rights violations had been committed with impunity by armed Kuki militant groups operating under the arrangement.
“The Federation reiterates that peace cannot prevail until truth is acknowledged, perpetrators are held accountable and justice is delivered,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its support for the people of Konsakhul Naga Village and the wider Naga community, NSF stated that the suffering of the six victims must not be forgotten and their killers must not be allowed to escape accountability.
“The Federation will not stay silent until justice is delivered,” it asserted.
