Forum for Naga Reconciliation urges restraint after four killed in Manipur factional clash, warning against retaliation and calling for unity during Holy Week.
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DIMAPUR — In the wake of the killing of four cadres of NSCN (IM) Eastern Flank in Manipur on March 29, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has issued an urgent appeal for calm and restraint, warning that emotional reactions and retaliatory impulses could deepen divisions within the Naga community.
The appeal comes days after the four cadres were allegedly killed by suspected NSCN (IM) members in a gunfight between rival groups in Manipur’s Kamjong district. In retaliation, an irate mob set to fire an office used by NSCN (IM) in Ukhrul, Manipur.
Expressing “deep sadness and hurt” over the developments, the FNR stated that the incident was “wholly unbecoming” and cannot be justified under any circumstances. It cautioned that anger and the desire for retaliation must not be allowed to dictate the response.
The forum warned against reactions that appear as confessions but are mixed with self-defence, partial repentance, or veiled revenge, stating that such responses could prolong harm and undermine the fragile process of reconciliation.
“The danger lies not only in the events themselves but in the uncontrolled emotions that threaten to destroy us from within,” the statement read.
Calling for collective responsibility, the FNR stressed the need for a decisive and disciplined public will, guided by thoughtful leadership, to steer the community away from further escalation. It urged people to rise above immediate emotions and act with moral clarity.
Invoking the significance of Holy Week, the forum appealed to the Naga people to seek spiritual reflection and renewal, encouraging them to “listen to the voice of God” rather than give in to impulses that could damage the future.
“In all urgency let this Holy Week change us to celebrate this Easter Sunday in peace and hope,” the statement added.
The FNR reiterated that only through restraint, sincerity, and unity can lasting peace and reconciliation be preserved in the aftermath of the recent violence.