The Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long (TAKL) has strongly criticised the state and Central governments for what it described as their failure to ensure the safety of Naga-inhabited villages along Manipur’s Indo-Myanmar border, warning that prolonged neglect could push border communities to seek support from neighbouring countries, including China.
Addressing a press conference at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Tuesday, TAKL president Yarchuiso Kashung alleged that several villages in Kamjong and Ukhrul districts remain exposed to repeated attacks and inadequate security measures.
Referring to recent incidents in Wanglee and Namlee villages, as well as the killing of four civilians near Pilong in Kamjong district, Kashung claimed that Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) militants were involved in attacks on border settlements. He said the violence has forced residents to live under constant threat despite their role in safeguarding the country’s frontier areas.
Kashung alleged that both the state and Central governments have repeatedly failed to provide sufficient protection to affected villages, despite recurring incidents along the international border.
Questioning the government’s response, he asked whether residents living along the Indo-Myanmar border were being treated differently from those residing near India’s borders with Pakistan or Bangladesh. He noted that villagers continue to remain in their homes despite security risks in order to protect the border.
The TAKL president further alleged that Kuki armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement have been involved in attacks on Naga civilians and villages across several districts, including Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Noney, Tamenglong and Senapati. He questioned whether the SoO arrangement allows armed groups to move with weapons, engage in extortion or target civilians, and demanded stronger monitoring and accountability.
Kashung also criticised the government’s handling of the broader Manipur conflict, which has continued since May 2023. He said repeated appeals for peace alone would not resolve the crisis unless the underlying causes of violence are addressed. According to him, both Naga and Meitei communities desire peace, but meaningful action is needed to end the prolonged unrest.
The remarks come amid continuing concerns over security along Manipur’s international border. Earlier this year, suspected Myanmar-based militants allegedly attacked the Tangkhul Naga villages of Namlee, Wanglee and Choro in Kamjong district, forcing residents to flee into nearby forests.
TAKL has urged both the Centre and the Manipur government to take immediate and concrete measures to secure vulnerable border villages and ensure the safety of civilians.
