Kamjong, Manipur | EKHON: The Khanuithot-Khon, a Naga youth organisation, has strongly condemned the cross-border attacks on Tangkhul Naga villages along the Indo–Myanmar border as an act of “cross-border terrorism” and a serious threat to India’s sovereignty and national security.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the organisation alleged that heavily armed militants belonging to the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), along with other Myanmar-based armed elements, crossed into Indian territory during the early hours of May 7 and launched coordinated attacks on several villages including Namlee, Wanglee, Ashang Khullen (Kaka), Aloyo (Choro), and nearby settlements under Manipur’s Kamjong district.
According to the organisation, the attacks involved indiscriminate firing, drone-assisted bombings, arson, and looting, forcing the vulnerable villagers like women, children, and elderly residents to flee into forests for safety. The group claimed that multiple houses were set ablaze and several civilians sustained injuries during the attacks. However, official confirmation regarding the extent of casualties and damage was not immediately available.
The Khanuithot-Khon asserted that the incident should not be viewed as a local or communal conflict but as a case of external aggression carried out by armed groups operating from across the international border.
The organisation also raised concerns over the timing of the attacks, alleging that they occurred shortly after security forces, including Assam Rifles personnel, conducted visits and combing operations in the affected villages. It questioned how a large number of armed militants were allegedly able to cross into Indian territory and carry out coordinated attacks without interception.
The statement further alleged that a member of the local Naga Village Guard (NVG) was reportedly arrested during the crisis, which, according to the organisation, weakened local defensive preparedness. The youth body also criticised the “passive”.
The Naga youth body has called for an independent high-level investigation into the incident, including alleged intelligence failures and the conduct of security personnel deployed in the region. It also demanded relief and rehabilitation measures for affected villagers and stronger action against cross-border militant networks operating along the Indo–Myanmar frontier.
The organisation further stated that border villages inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community had for years provided humanitarian assistance and shelter to civilians fleeing violence in Myanmar following the country’s political unrest. It expressed concern that such humanitarian support may have been exploited by armed groups allegedly involved in the attacks.
The incident has added to growing concerns over security and instability along the Indo–Myanmar border, where tensions have escalated amid ongoing unrest in Myanmar since the 2021 military takeover.
