NSCN (IM) accuses NIA, AR of working in tandem with Kuki militants

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 23: The NSCN (IM) has accused the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Assam Rifles and the para-regiment of working hand in gloves with Kuki militants.
A statement issued by NSCN(IM) has questioned where the Government of India is heading by resorting to proxy war against them (NSCN) using KNA (B) and PDF.
Although the NSCN (IM) has been staying away from the violent conflict raging on in Manipur, the NIA has made bewildering allegations against the party of fuelling the Meitei-Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict by allegedly helping the Meitei revolutionary groups against the Kuki militants.
It is regrettable that the Assam Rifles (AR) and the para-regiment are openly colluding with Kuki militant groups against NSCN (IM), creating a war-like scenario in the border areas of India and Myanmar, the NSCN (IM) alleged in a statement issued by its MIP.
No such war-mongering situation has been witnessed in recent history, despite the area being prone to infiltration by different militant groups. As usual, the KNA/KNA(B) is in denial mode, trying to show a different picture, far from having any link with the ubiquitous AR and para-troopers.
Ground reality, however, speaks louder than anything else. KNA (B) is given unrestrained access to border crossing points to Myanmar and allowed to come out anytime, while others are strictly forbidden. Such is the deceitful role of Indian security forces magnifying the problem instead of finding a solution, it said.
Certainly, the Free Movement Regime (FMR) was scrapped by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to control the undesirable elements crossing the border. It is ironic that Kuki militants are found as favourable elements to wreck the presence of the Naga Army in Myanmar.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that illegal immigrants from Myanmar created the Manipur situation that continues to burn. To stop this, he initiated the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing the border.
However, contrary to the Government’s decision, the NIA, along with AR and the para-regiment, are working hand in gloves with the Kuki militant groups. These AR, Territorial Army, and para-regiment facilitated the Kuki militants with free entry and exit, it said.
Villagers have seen truckloads of Kuki militants being dropped at the border by the AR. There is a strong nexus between the Indian security Forces, KNA (B), and PDF, with all the scheming materials provided by the Indian security forces. They supplied combat materials to KNA (B) and Chin PDF. Not only that, they supplied GI pipes for their bomb-making factory at Phaiyang village.
The Indian Security Forces gave training to KNA(B) on how to make bombs and operate them using drones. The bomb-making factory of KNA(B) at Phaiyang is guarded by the Indian security forces round the clock, the NSCN (IM) alleged.
The insincerity of the Government of India is not only highly questionable but wicked and loathsome. It is ironic that the main target of the Indian security forces is the Naga Army, it said.
There are more than 5,000 Kuki refugees from Myanmar sheltered in Naga villages under Kasom and Kamjong blocks, including Wanglee, Namlee, Kaka, Zingshophai Choro, Skip, Pilong, Sangalok, and Phaikoh in Kamjong district.
These refugee camps have gained notoriety for indulging in criminal activities, polluting the socio-security environment. The borderline activities of these refugees were made easy as they colluded with AR to walk in and out of Myanmar with nefarious purposes, it alleged.
“While we understand that these refugees are fleeing for survival, their very presence has become a huge economic burden for the locals, affecting their livelihood as these refugees have rummaged the greenery (wild plants) for food, giving tough competition to the locals and going way above the tolerance limit," the NSCN(IM) remarked.
The villagers along the borderline feel insecure going for hunting or fishing in the jungles because of the presence of anti-social elements that have penetrated from the other side of the border in the name of refugees.
To put on record, the combined forces of KNA(B) and PDF, with Indian security forces managing the logistics, have taken an inimical stance against NSCN(IM), deliberately targeting the Naga Army camps located in Naga areas in Myanmar, it said.
It is unfortunate that KNA(B)/PDF waylaid 2nd Lieutenant Hante Ao of the Naga Army on May 11, 2024, and he was killed on May 13, 2024, after intense torture. Another Naga Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Yaoreichan, posted at Choro village, Kamjong district, was also captured by KNA(B) and killed. These incidents are disgusting, the Naga insurgent group said.
It then warned the KNA(B) not to take sadistic pleasure in killing Naga Army members.
NIA, with its sinister motives, has only exacerbated the volatile situation by blaming the NSCN(IM) for the unrest in Manipur. They are simply adding fuel to the burning issue, determined to make the best use of the Kuki militants to settle scores with NSCN(IM). Nevertheless, NSCN(IM) finds no reason why NIA has to be so miserable and belligerent, ready to set the Indo-Myanmar border on fire against the Naga Army, it said.
 For the record, Indian security forces are raining bombs using drones against the Naga Army camps in Myanmar. This has been going on for more than three weeks.
NSCN(IM) said it understands that what Indian security forces are doing against the Naga Army is pure military brinkmanship.
“It looks all the more bizarre as we find the aggression of Indian security forces very hideous, as drone attacks are nothing less than international aggression since the geographical location of the Naga Army is beyond the jurisdiction of India”, it said.
 The Government of India shall be held responsible when NSCN(IM) is compelled to find answers to Indian aggression in the manner they deem fit.
When the Indo-Naga political talks remain inconclusive, it doesn't give India the right to resort to bombings using drones across the international border. It is militarily and politically unnecessary, inherently immoral, a war crime, and no less a form of State terrorism, the Naga insurgent  group added.