In spite of clarifications from the Indian paramilitary forces, this is not first time the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, NSCN (IM) has claimed that the Indian Security Forces are helping the illegal immigrants and cooperating with the Kuki militants.
The NSCN (IM) has accused Indian Security Forces, including the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles (AR), and the Border Security Force (BSF), of aiding Kuki militants and facilitating the transportation of illegal immigrants in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.
These individuals were reportedly dropped off at Litan village and its surrounding areas in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, home of the Tangkhuls, where Kuki settlements are located. The NSCN (IM) denounced this as a calculated move to alter the region’s demographic structure and reinforce the presence of Kuki militants in Naga-inhabited areas.
In a press release issued on March 25, 2025 by the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN), through its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), the NSCN (IM) claims that the BSF was found transporting unidentified illegal immigrants from the Churachandpur district and dropping them in the Litan village areas, where a few Kuki villages surround Litan in Ukhrul district.
Alleging that the BSF, a paramilitary force responsible for guarding India’s borders, has been guarding the Kuki militants’ camp at Molhang Kuki village for a long time, the NSCN (IM) stated that this entails a cooperative relationship between the BSF and the Kuki militants. Such a relationship, which defies logic, is a direct challenge and insult to the NSCN (IM), which has been in a ceasefire with the Government of India (GOI) since August 1, 1997 to pave the way for political dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the Indo-Naga political conflict.
The NSCN (IM) continues to say that the paramilitary forces of India providing logistical and material support to Kuki militants in Manipur is not a recent development. It has existed since the early 1990s when the Meitei-dominated Manipur government nurtured Kuki militant groups to counter the NSCN.
“NSCN will not allow Naga areas to be used as dumping ground for any illegal immigrants transported by India’s paramilitary forces from across the border or from any other non-Naga areas,” the release said.
The BSF denied aiding or transporting Kuki or any other ethnicity-based extremist group in Manipur or elsewhere in the Northeast, reports said.
However, the NSCN (IM) added that it was not long ago when the organisation exposed the Manipur Police for engaging in an “unethical nexus with the Kuki militants,” leaving no room for the state police to refute the charges. The truth came to light when the Manipur Police were found providing materials to Kuki militants stationed at Molhang Kuki village in Ukhrul.
Further, it claimed that, time and again, it has also exposed the Assam Rifles (AR) for working in collusion with Kuki militants, as AR vehicles were used to transport Kuki militants in Kamjong district and other places.
It may be mentioned that the NSCN (IM) on January 11, 2025 in a statement said, “In what could be the final blow to the long held allegations of the Kuki militants being tacitly supported by the security agencies of the government of India, the Ukhrul SP Karthik Malladi (IPS) was found in the indefensible act. The incident took place on December 18, 2024, when SP loaded 2 shaktiman trucks and 2 Pick Up mini trucks with rice and tin sheets. But it was found that the bigger volume of the load was hidden underneath the rice and tin sheets without disclosing the concealed items. He ordered his policemen to take it to the Molhang Kuki village telling them it is for the CRPF. When the 4 vehicles reached Molhang Kuki village, instead of CRPF, around 200 Kuki militants were found waiting. The Kuki militants hurriedly unloaded the items without letting the policemen know. The policemen just stood there dumbstruck when the 4 trucks were already unloaded and emptied.
Now, it is an established fact that the centre government is sustaining the Kuki militants providing them materials and logistics support. Significantly, the centre government has already channelled millions of rupees for the Kuki militants in the past. Though this incident is shocking, it is clear beyond any iota of doubt that this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Expectedly, the Manipur Police on January 12, 2025 said in its official X handle that the news item and the press release are blatantly false.
The Police said that based on a request from the BSF and Kangpokpi district police, as well as directives from the Police headquarters, Ukhrul district police gave police guides to the BSF team travelling to Molham Kuki village on December 12, 202,4 and again on December 19 Ukhrul district police gave security escorts to trucks carrying labourers and materials for the construction of security barracks in Molham Kuki village, which will house BSF coys.
According to reports, the Assam Rifles while strongly refuting the allegations of harassment and restrictions by the residents of Kasom Khullen Block, clarified that the “Assam Rifles personnel on January 11, manning the post at Hongbei, inspected a vehicle and discerned that the vehicle loaded with timber did not have mandated documents. Following procedures, Assam Rifles personnel stopped the vehicle.”
Moreover, last year, on May 23, 2024, the NSCN (IM) said that the Indian armed forces are using a Kuki extremist outfit and a pro-democracy armed group in civil war-torn Myanmar to wage a war against the Naga Army along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The NSCN (IM) said the Assam Rifles (AR) and the India Army’s para regiment have been using the Kuki National Army (Burma), or KNA (B), and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) for a proxy war to kill its members. This is a deliberate attempt to drag the NSCN (IM) into a conflict it has steered clear of while pursuing a political settlement to the ‘Naga political issue’ with the Government of India, the NSCN (IM) said last year.
The KNA (B) has a Manipur-based wing called the KNA. The PDF is the armed wing of the exiled National Unity Government that has been fighting the Tatmadaw or Myanmar military, which staged a coup on February 1, 2021.
The NSCN (IM) further said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is “spitting venom” by alleging that the NSCN has been helping radical Meitei groups to fuel the year-old violent conflict between the Kuki-Zomi militants and the Meiteis in Manipur.
“It is a matter of regret that the AR and the para-regiment are openly standing out to collude with Kuki militant groups against NSCN, creating a war-like scenario in the border areas of India and Myanmar. No such war-mongering situation was witnessed in recent history despite the area (being) prone to infiltration by different militant groups,” the NSCN said.
The KNA and KNA (B) have denied any links with the AR and the paratroopers, but the NSCN said that the Kuki group “is being given unrestrained access” to the crossing points for easy movement across the India-Myanmar border.
“The (border) 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…” it said.
The NSCN claimed the Indian armed forces supplied combat materials to the KNA (B) and the PDF in Myanmar’s Chin Province bordering Mizoram and Manipur. The Indian armed forces also supplied galvanised iron pipes for a bomb-making factory of the KNA (B) at Phaiyang, it added.
Phaiyang is a village in Myanmar close to the border with India facing Namlee village in Manipur’s Kamjong district.
According to reports, the Assam Rifles, in charge of guarding the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border, denied the charges of the NSCN (IM).
However, in a statement issued on February 26, 2025, the NSCN (IM) praised the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) for their vigilant efforts in safeguarding Naga areas. The NSCN (IM) highlighted the exemplary conduct of SDSA members, who have shown courage and responsibility by staying alert to suspicious activities in the region.
The statement read, “SDSA exercises their duty-bound responsibility by being vigilant and courageous in the face of suspicious movement within the Naga jurisdiction. Such work at odd hours is quite exemplary, staying alert and making the Naga areas safer from intrusion by anti-Naga elements in collusion with the ubiquitous Assam Rifles (AR).”
According to the statement, the SDSA dared to confront the Assam Rifles’ Director General, criticizing his lack of integrity. The NSCN (IM) remarked, “They did the right job daring to question the Assam Rifles’ Director General and demean him for his lack of integrity.”
The NSCN (IM)’s remarks came in the wake of an incident on the night of February 22, 2025. “What happened in the dark night of February 22, 2025 when Assam Rifles were caught on the wrong foot escorting Kuki militant group, Kuki National Front (P) led by General Secretary Aron Kipgen, is just another incident that AR were caught red-handed for their unethical conduct,” stated the NSCN.
The NSCN also reiterated longstanding concerns about the Assam Rifles’ reported ties with Kuki militants. The statement emphasized that the Assam Rifles has earned notoriety for its alleged support of the Kuki militants, stating, “AR has gained the notoriety for their unholy nexus with the Kuki militants, assisting them in every possible way, logistics and materials.” Further, the NSCN raised alarm over the continued deaths of Kuki militants from Manipur in Myanmar, questioning the role of the Assam Rifles in this cross-border activity. “One interesting development of serious nature is, why so many Kuki militants from Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and other parts of Manipur continue to die in Myanmar as KNA(B) cadres, even in Kachin land?” the statement queried. “The irony is, all these are taking place right under the nose of the Assam Rifles that provide them all types of ammunitions to the Kuki militants and facilitating them to cross the border to reach the battlefields.”
The NSCN concluded with a reminder of their ongoing concerns regarding Assam Rifles’ involvement with the Kuki National Army (B), stating, “AR is also the transporter of illegal Kuki immigrants, including giving all sorts of help to the KNA (B).”
As the confrontation between the NSCN (IM) and Indian Security Forces, despite clarifications, the NSCN (IM) continues to claim that the Indian paramilitary forces are helping illegal immigrants and are cooperating with the Kuki militants.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
1 thought on “NSCN (IM) Again Claims Indian Paramilitary Forces Are Helping Illegal Immigrants and Kuki Militants”
It is s fact that Assam Rifles is always with the Kukis. It is alleged that Kuki women dressed AR uniforms are on the Patrol party. AR deliberately allows Kuki from Myanmar to Manipur. NSCN has correctly narrated the facts.