The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has strongly condemned the recent statement issued by the Kuki-Zo Council regarding the killing of six Naga civilians, accusing the council of attempting to divert attention from what it described as the “cold-blooded abduction, torture and murder” of innocent Nagas instead of addressing the demand for justice.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NSF said, “The statement is a blatant attempt to divert attention from the fundamental issue—the brutal abduction, torture and murder of six innocent Naga civilians whose families continue to await justice.”
The NSF expressed particular concern over the Kuki-Zo Council’s use of the term “Kacha Naga,” describing it as “divisive and derogatory”.
According to the Federation, no organisation representing another community has the authority to classify or redefine the identity of the indigenous Naga people. It further argued that the term reflected an attempt to fragment the Naga identity by categorising Nagas into “Southern,” “Northern,” “Eastern” and “Western” groups.
“Our ancestral homeland may today be scattered by subjugation and militarization, but no artificial frontier can alter our common history, shared identity or our collective destiny as a Naga,” it said adding such attempts are made to fracture Naga unity “when our people stand in pursuit of justice and our legitimate political standing”.
The NSF cautioned any organization and individual against becoming instruments of agendas that seek to weaken the Naga identity and national movement by sowing seeds of discord and falsehood.
The Federation also stated that the Nagas have historically extended hospitality and coexistence to various communities, including different Kuki groups residing across different parts of Naga homeland, but warned that it would not allow this generosity to be exploited to advance the interests and agendas of few vested individuals and groups that seeks to undermine the the rights, dignity and identity of the indigenous Naga people.
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The Federation stressed that the issue at hand was neither political propaganda nor competing narratives but the killing of six innocent Naga civilians. It said no statement or expression of regret could erase the “horrifying reality” of the victims’ abduction, torture, murder and alleged desecration of their bodies.
The NSF maintained that any attempt to rationalise, dilute or justify the killings had only deepened the pain of the bereaved families and the Naga people.
Reiterating its demand for justice, the Federation called for the identification, arrest and prosecution of every individual, including all armed Kuki narco-militant groups as well as every civilian found, responsible for the killings.
The Federation also urged the Government of India to immediately revoke the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with what it termed “Kuki narco-militant groups,” alleging that numerous atrocities and human rights violations had been committed under the cover of the arrangement.
While strongly condemning the killings, the NSF clarified that the Naga people did not seek conflict with the Government of India. It reiterated that Nagas aspire to coexist peacefully and honourably with neighbouring communities based on mutual respect, justice and recognition of each other’s historical and political rights.
The Federation maintained that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved through truth, accountability and an honourable political resolution to the long-standing Indo-Naga political issue.
“The Naga issue is not and has never been a secessionist movement but a response to the existential oppression faced by the Naga people in defending their identity and political rights,” it stated.
It reaffirmed its solidarity with the families of the six slain civilians, declaring that their grief was shared by the entire Naga community, adding, “Until truth prevails and those responsible are held accountable, the Federation shall remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice.”
