Naga People's Front Manipur State Unit condemns the TM Kashom Village ambush and seeks action on missing Naga men.
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DIMAPUR — The Naga People's Front, Manipur State Unit (NPF-MSU), has condemned the reported ambush by suspected Kuki militants near TM Kashom Village, which resulted in the death of an FCI truck driver, injuries to police personnel, and damage to a section of National Highway-202.
In a press release, NPF-MSU said the killing of Nitish Kumar (57), a resident of West Bengal and driver of an FCI truck, along with the injuries sustained by police personnel in the line of duty, was deeply concerning.
The party also expressed alarm over the reported destruction of part of NH-202, stating that such acts endanger innocent lives, undermine the rule of law, and further destabilise an already fragile situation in the region.
The party noted that the incident comes at a time when people are still awaiting answers regarding the fate of six Naga men who were abducted on May 13.
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Referring to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s visit to Makhan Village on May 28, the NPF-MSU said survivors of the abduction shared firsthand accounts that reportedly differed significantly from information earlier conveyed to the government by senior police and security officials.
According to the party, the chief minister and accompanying Naga MLAs were reportedly shocked by the testimonies, raising concerns about the effectiveness of ground-level investigations, intelligence gathering, and official reporting.
“The testimonies heard during the chief minister’s visit give rise to a fundamental question: Why did it require the personal intervention of the chief minister for these facts to come to light? Where were the police, security forces and intelligence agencies before the visit to Makhan Village?” the statement questioned.
It further asked whether all relevant witnesses had been questioned, statements properly recorded, and available leads thoroughly pursued.
Citing survivor testimonies, the party alleged that the six Naga men were last seen after being detained at Leilon Vaiphei by local women before allegedly being handed over to armed Kuki militants.
The party expressed concern that despite the deployment of state police and security forces, and repeated assurances from authorities, there has been no visible breakthrough in establishing the whereabouts of the missing men.
The reported excavation and destruction of a portion of NH-202 using JCB excavators by Kuki elements also raised serious questions regarding security oversight, the NPF-MSU stated.
It argued that such an operation would have required considerable time, manpower and heavy machinery, and questioned how it could have taken place if security personnel were stationed nearby.
“The people deserve to know why no effective action was taken to prevent the destruction of a crucial highway connecting communities and facilitating the movement of essential goods and services,” the party stated.
While asserting that the Naga people have exercised patience and restraint throughout the crisis, NPF-MSU said continued inaction risks eroding public confidence in institutions responsible for maintaining law and order.
The party demanded an immediate and transparent status report on the six missing Naga men, a thorough inquiry into alleged lapses in investigation, intelligence gathering and official reporting, and the swift identification and prosecution of those responsible for abductions, attacks on civilians and security personnel, and destruction of public infrastructure.
It also called for stronger security measures to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of all communities, as well as accountability from agencies tasked with maintaining law and order.
The NPF-MSU reaffirmed its support for the families of the six missing Naga men and pledged to continue pursuing the matter through democratic means until the truth is established.