Imphal, April 20 (NNN): The repeated attacks on the Nagas have angered and aroused the Nagas across the Naga areas. Last Saturday’s killing of two Nagas in Ukhrul district has further heightened the charged situation to another level. The Nagas have been accusing the armed Kukis for all these attacks.
Two days after the killing, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the apex Naga student body which headquarter is in Kohima, has reaffirmed its commitment “to stand at the forefront and will spare no expense in defending the collective interest of the Naga homeland”.
Terming it as cold-blooded murders, NSF expressed its “strongest condemnation of the heinous and barbaric attack on innocent Naga civilians at TM-Kasom village along NH-202, which claimed the precious lives of Chinaoshang Shokwungnao of Tashar village and Yaruingam Vashum of Kharasom village, Ukhrul district on April 18, 2026”.
The apex Naga student body said this “cold-blooded act of violence against unarmed civilians” has been gravely registered as a direct assault on the dignity, safety and inherent rights of the Naga people to live in peace within “our own homeland, and a direct existential threat to the Naga people”.
The NSF then conveyed its “deepest condolences” to the bereaved families and stands in unwavering solidarity with them in this hour of grief and injustice.
In light of the same, the NSF unequivocally demanded that the concerned authorities initiate immediate, impartial and stringent action against the perpetrators of this dastardly crime. Any failure or delay in delivering justice will be viewed as a grave abdication of responsibility, it also said.
Further, the NSF issued a stern and unequivocal warning that any form of aggression, intimidation or violence against the Naga people will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The patience of the Naga people must not be mistaken for weakness. Any recurrence of such acts will invite strong and resolute response from the Federation and the Naga public at large, the NSF also stated.
In solidarity with the resolutions adopted by Naga civil bodies, a candlelight vigil will be held on April 23, 2026 at 6:30 pm at NSF Oking in Kohima, to honor the departed souls and to collectively reaffirm our commitment to justice and existential rights.
Three-day shutdown
Meanwhile, various Naga organisations based in the districts of Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul have endorsed the call of the United Naga Council (UNC) to impose three-day “total shutdown across all Naga areas” under the jurisdiction of the UNC from the midnight of April 20 to midnight of April 23, 2026 to mourn the death of the two beloved Naga civilians” killed allegedly by Kuki militants on Saturday and as a collective expression of condemnation.
The Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati district, while “strongly condemning the barbaric and senseless murder of two brothers, Mr Chinaoshang Shokwungnao, of Tashar village and Mr Yaruingam Vashum of Kharasom village which occurred between Litan and TM Kasom on April 18, 2026, allegedly perpetrated by Kuki militants”, said that, in protest against this heinous act, the three-day mourning and total shutdown agitation declared by the United Naga Council (UNC), with effect from midnight of April 20, to April 23, 2026, it fully endorsed the call. The shutdown will be strictly observed and implemented across all jurisdictions under the NPO, including the closure of all central and state government offices, banks, both private and government educational institutions and restrictions on all Vehicular movements, it also said.
During the period of mourning and total shutdown, only essential services shall be exempted, subject to proper verification including medical emergencies, examination-related duties, airport services, electricity services, water supply, fire and media services, the NPO informed.
The NPO “earnestly” requested the general public to extend full cooperation in observing the three-day mourning and total shutdown in letter and spirit.
Similar statements have been made by Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Civil Society Organisations of Tamenglong, Joint Tribes Council (JTC) of Tamenglong district and many others.
