NSCN (IM) alleges security lapses, Kuki militant role in Litan arson incident

DIMAPUR — The NSCN (IM) on Wednesday issued a statement on the Litan burning incident, alleging involvement of Kuki militants and serious lapses on the part of Indian security forces, and terming the incident a grave violation of law and human rights.

In the statement, the group rejected what it described as a “misrepresentation” of the incident by Kuki frontal organisations, asserting that the violence began with an alleged assault on a Tangkhul individual, which later escalated into arson.

It claimed that Kuki militants used the situation as a pretext to target Tangkhul houses.

The statement further alleged that security forces were seen acting in coordination with Kuki militants during the incident, an accusation it said amounted to a breach of the rule of law.

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According to the group, the arson was “premeditated” and directed against the Tangkhul Naga community.

The NSCN (IM) also criticised Kuki organisations for portraying themselves as victims in the aftermath of the incident and for attributing responsibility to Tangkhul groups with alleged support from the NSCN.

It took exception to representations made by certain Kuki bodies to the prime minister of India, stating that these communications did not reflect what it described as the “actual sequence of events.”

Describing the incident as a serious human rights concern, it accused security agencies of failing to act impartially and called the events at Litan an example of aggression against the Naga people.