Mobs target houses of top NSCN(IM) leaders

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 31: Infur-iated by the Hongbei incident of March 28, 2026 in which four cadres of the Naga Army, Eastern Flank were killed in an alleged ambush by an army unit of NSCN(IM), large mobs today vandalised houses of several top NSCN(IM) leaders at Phungreitang and Hamleikhong, Ukhrul.
Large mobs gathered this afternoon and stormed the houses of some top NSCN(IM) leaders till late evening, sources said.
On the other hand, a total shutdown was imposed from 6 am to 6 pm today at Kamjong district headquarters in protest against the killing of the four cadres of Naga Army, Eastern Flank.          
The total shutdown was called by the Kamjong Students’ Union.
A similar shutdown was imposed at Ukhrul district headquarters on Monday.
Earlier, several Tangkhul civil society organisations served a 12-hour ultimatum to the NSCN(IM) to produce the two Naga Army cadres who were involved in the shooting at Hongbei village, Kamjong district which led to the death of the four cadres of the Naga Army, Eastern Flank.
Civil society organisations including the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long and Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long had identified two persons allegedly involved in the Hongbei killing as Athot of Sihai Khunou village and Star of Lairam Khullen.
The CSOs demanded NSCN(IM) to produce the two persons at the office of Tangkhul Naga Long by 2 pm of March 30.
Even though NSCN(IM) leadership did not meet the CSOs’ ultimatum, they constituted a six-member enqui- ry commission to probe the incident.
However, this step failed to ameliorate the anguish of the public.
Infuriated by the killing and not satisfied with the response of NSCN(IM) leadership, large mobs vandalised the houses of many top leaders of the rebel group this afternoon.         
Notably, four cadres of Naga Army, Eastern Flank  identified as Captain Sochipem of Marao village, Sergeant Major Zairay Vasah of Halang village, Sergeant Bahnle Ahlahpya of Eastern Nagaland and Sergeant Thansomi Washi of Mapao village were killed in an alleged ambush  by a unit of NSCN(IM)’s Naga Army at Hongbei village, Kamjong district on March 28, 2026.
Families of the deceased cadres have been refusing to bury the dead bodies demanding a convincing explanation from the NSCN(IM) leadership regarding the circumstances leading to the killing of the four cadres.   
With the families refusing to lay the dead bodies to rest and the Tangkhul CSOs not satisfied with the response of NSCN(IM) leadership, tension is mounting in both Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, said the sources.