NBCC, ZBCC flay late-night AR raid on Samziuram Baptist Church

Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and Zeme Baptist Church Council (ZBCC) have strongly condemned the late-night raid allegedly carried out by Assam Rifles personnel on the Samziuram Baptist Church premises and the pastor’s residence in Peren district on March 9, 2026 at around 11 pm, describing the incident as a sacrilegious violation of sacred space and an act of intimidation against the Christian community.
NBCC through its general secretary Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener and secretary for social concern Dr. Villo Naleo, termed the behaviour of the jawans towards the church workers as “a terrifying ordeal.”
The council also described as “both unthinkable and unacceptable” for the Army jawans to search, threaten and warn the church workers inside the church compound.
NBCC said the raid was a direct violation and an act of desacralizing the sanctity of the whole Christian Church.
It said that entry of armed personnel into a place of worship without a warrant or justifiable emergency was a severe violation of sacred space and an act of intimidation against the congregation.
NBCC said the Assam Rifles called themselves “Friends of the Hill People” but their action told a different narrative.
The council emphasised that Assam Rifles were neither unfamiliar with Naga culture and religion nor unaware about how the church functions in Nagaland.
Pointing out that the Indian Army maintains its own religious personnel including chaplains, NBCC said it was therefore highly questionable why the church premises became the target of a military raid.
NBCC has called upon the district administrative authorities and all higher authorities to intervene into the matter with utmost concern and urgency.
The council also demanded a clear explanation and evidence from the Assam Rifles’ intelligence command if they viewed churches as spaces breeding violence or insurgency.
It stressed that churches under NBCC do not function like organizations that promote or justify violence.
According to NBCC, Christian principle teaches that each life was sacred and precious before God. However, it said that the Indian army under the guise and protection of AFSPA had claimed many Naga lives in the past.
NBCC recalled the 1956 murder of field evangelist Pelesatuo Chase by jawans of the 8th Mountain Division at Chakhabama, whose body was never recovered, as an example of past atrocities against church workers.
NBCC vehemently condemned the act of sacrilege and demanded a formal apology from the perpetrators. It also sought assurances from the Assam Rifles that no such incident would recur.
It extended prayers for the affected church workers enduring mental trauma.
ZBCC: Zeme Baptist Church Council (ZBCC) through its executive secretary Dr. Rampaukopoing Michui, unequivocally condemned the raid by the 9 Assam Rifles as a “disrespectful and irreverent” act that has shocked churches across the Zeme community and surrounding areas.
ZBCC described the violation of the church’s sacred premises as deeply hurtful to believers’ sentiments and unacceptable.
ZBCC warned that such actions allow a system of institutional violence, fostering fear, tension, and disharmony. “In a country where religious freedom is enshrined in the Constitution, is this a telling that the Christian church will be monitored in a Christian majority state,” ZBCC said.
It questioned whether the raid signalled that Christian churches in a Christian-majority state would now face monitoring and expressed concern that church premises could become regular targets for security forces.
ZBCC appealed to responsible authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into how the incident occurred and to ensure such irreverent acts do not repeat in the future.
It also offered prayers for the recovery of those affected, who suffered trauma and psychological stress while serving in the house of God.