The NSCN (IM) has alleged collusion between Kuki militants and Indian security forces in the Litan burning incident, terming it a grave violation of human rights and an act of aggression against the Tangkhul Nagas.

In a statement issued by its MIP, the NSCN (IM) claimed that the narrative presented by Kuki frontal organizations regarding the incident was misleading and far from the truth. It alleged that the violence began after an incident in which a Tangkhul individual was assaulted by intoxicated Kuki individuals, which was later used as a pretext by Kuki militants to target Tangkhul houses.

It further alleged that security forces were seen assisting the Kuki militants during the incident, with some personnel reportedly masking their faces. It claimed that the militants operated with the patronage of security forces and alleged that the incident was a premeditated act of arson against the Tangkhul community.

“Everything is made to look loud and clear that the Kuki militants enjoyed the patronage of the security forces with the green signal from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. It was, therefore, a premeditated arson committed by the Kuki militants against the Tangkhul Naga,” the statement said.

The NSCN also criticized the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) for writing to the Prime Minister of India over the incident, alleging that the organization was attempting to portray Kukis as victims while blaming Tangkhuls and NSCN cadres for the violence.

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Maintaining that the incident reflected “breach of rule of law”, the NSCN alleged that Indian security forces had assisted Kuki militants in burning Tangkhul houses, describing the incident as a “grave violation of human rights”.

“In the face of this brute force of aggression on Litan Tangkhuls , the die has been cast, forcing the NSCN to put on record the Litan Burning issue as a symbol of aggression against the Naga nation using the unruly Kuki militants as the frontal body of the government of India against the political rights of the Nagas,” it said and asserted that the NSCN would stand firm to defend its land of the Naga nation.