DIMAPUR, JUN 28 (NPN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has outrightly rejected the recent statement issued by the Kuki-Zo Council on the killing of six Naga civilians, alleging that it sought to divert attention from what it described as the abduction, torture and murder of the victims.
In a statement, NSF president Mteisuding and general secretary Kenilo Kent also objected to the divisive and derogatory terminology to project Naga people as “Kacha Naga”. NSF said it was outrageous that the organizations representing Kuki-Zo community sought to classify or redefine the identity of indigenous Naga populace.
It said that the term “Kacha Naga” exposed the irony of those whose historical presence and settlement in Naga homeland dated back only about a century to the British colonial period, when they were brought in as porters and coolies for administrative and logistical purposes, now seeking to classify and redefine the identity of the indigenous Naga people.
NSF questioned by what authority such groups question the identity of the Nagas in their own ancestral homeland? It also said that attempts to categorise Nagas into “Southern”, “Northern”, “Eastern” or “Western” Nagas based on what it termed as “shadow lines” were part of a long-standing narrative propagated to fragment and weaken the collective identity of the Nagas.
The federation asserted that no artificial frontier could alter the Nagas’ common history, shared identity or collective destiny, maintaining that the Naga nation had existed long before the present boundaries and would continue to exist beyond them.
NSF alleged that such narratives were aimed at fracturing Naga unity at a time when the people were pursuing justice and their legitimate political rights. It cautioned organisations and individuals against becoming instruments of agendas that sought to weaken the Naga identity and national movement by sowing discord and falsehood.
NSF further stated that while the Nagas had historically extended hospitality and coexisted with various communities, including Kuki groups residing in different parts of the Naga homeland, it would not allow such generosity to be exploited to advance the interests and agendas of what it described as a few vested individuals and groups seeking to undermine the rights, dignity and identity of the ancestral dwellers, while disregarding the well-being of their own people who continue to coexist across the Naga homeland under the hospitality of the Nagas.
NSF maintained that the issue was not one of political propaganda or competing narratives, but the killing of six Naga civilians. It asserted that no statement or expression of regret could substitute for justice or erase horrifying reality of abduction, torture, murder and desecration of the victims’ bodies. It said that attempts to rationalise, dilute or justify the incident had deepened the grief of the bereaved families and the Nagas.
The federation reiterated its demand that all those responsible for the killings, including armed Kuki narco-militant groups and any civilians found involved through due legal process, be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished according to law.
It also appealed to the government of India for immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki narco-militant groups, alleging that numerous atrocities and human rights violations had been committed under its cover with impunity.
NSF reiterated that the Naga people desired neither conflict nor hostility with the government of India and maintained that they had consistently aspired to coexist peacefully with all nations and neighbouring communities based on mutual respect, justice and recognition of each other’s ancestral, historical and political rights.
It, however, asserted that lasting peace could not be achieved through what it described as denial, distortion or selective narratives. The federation further maintained that the Naga issue was not a secessionist movement but a response to the existential oppression faced by Nagas in defending their identity and political rights. It added that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved through truth, accountability and an honourable political resolution to the Naga political issue.
The federation also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and affirmed that it would continue pursuing justice until those responsible were held accountable.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026