NSCN-IM, Naga Army fume over Assam killing, warn GoI
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN / Lester Makang

Dimapur/Ukhrul, April 30 2025: While condemning the killing of its cadres by the security force personnel in Assam, the NSCN-IM accused the Government of India of violating the "agreed ground rules of the Ceasefire".

In a statement on Wednesday, the NSCN-IM said, "We express our deepest concern over the violation of the Agreed Ground Rules Cease-fire by Government of India which occurred again on April 29, 2025 wherein 3 Naga Army cadres were killed at NC Hills (ELOI HAU Bn, present Assam), Nagalim (Naga-territory) by the illegal occupation Indian force".

The NSCN-IM said this is a deliberate breach of the jointly established "Agreed Ground Rules" to maintain peace during the sensitive ongoing political negotiation period.

The NSCN-IM also said that, despite "our commitment" to de-escalation and restraint, the Indian state has chosen to discard the ceasefire terms of clause (a) by launching an unprovoked attack on the Naga Army base in Naga territory, which has now posed a serious threat to ongoing peace efforts.

The clause (a) states that "There would be no offensive operations like ambush, raid and attack leading to death/damage or loss of property against the NSCN by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and the police.

The Indian Army and paramilitary forces would also act in a manner as not to cause harassment/damage or loss of property or injury to the civilian population" .

The NSCN-IM then called upon the Government of India to immediately cease all hostile activities, respect the terms of the ceasefire and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation.

The NSCN-IM also urged the international community and relevant monitoring bodies to take note of "this serious violation" and support efforts to restore and uphold the ceasefire so that a negotiated political agreement should be reached.

"Our commitment to peace remains unshaken, but we reserve the right to take all means necessary and measures to protect our people and territory in the face of aggression," the NSCN-IM cautioned.

Meanwhile, calling the April 29 attack on one of its camps in Assam as 'premeditated', the Naga Army cautioned that the recent assault has the potential to jeopardise the fragile Indo-Naga peace process.

"The attack on the Naga Army camp in Assam has once again pushed the hard-earned Indo-Na-ga peace process to the brink of collapse," warned a press statement issued by PIB, Naga Army director brigadier H Sumi (MSM) and assistant director lieutenant colonel S Yurkhan (MSM).

It said that the violent incident occurred on April 29, 2025, at the forested area near New Kubin and Herakilua villages, where a cluster camp of the Naga Army, part of the Iloi Hau Battalion, was assaulted by combined forces of the Indian security forces and Assam police.

Quoting eyewitness accounts, the statement noted that the intense exchange of fire resulted in casualties on both sides, adding that villagers were barred from entering the spot where bodies of deceased and injured army men were loaded into their trucks.

"Dozens of Indian soldiers were either killed or fatally wounded during the gun battle.

From our side, three of our valiant soldiers went down fighting till their last breath," it continued, honouring their sacrifice as martyrs who fought valiantly for their land and rights.

The statement reminded that when ceasefire was declared in 1997, the essence of self-restraint among the combatants and showing mutual respect between the opposing camps was instilled primarily to create conducive atmosphere for peace parley.

"This spirit of cooperation cannot be subjected to a particular area, for the same reason that it does not make sense to be fighting in one place and talking peace in another place at the same time," it pointed out, adding that against this backdrop, a joint statement was issued on June 14 2001, to the effect that the ceasefire agreement was between the government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits.

It stated that in line with this agreement, Naga Army camps exist and operate in all Naga inhabited areas, maintaining the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement.

"However, to our utter dismay, Indian security forces had in the past, repeatedly violated this very spirit of ceasefire on one pretext or the other," the statement contended, stressing that the Naga Army cannot afford to be victims of such ambiguities.

The statement noted that such unprovoked attacks constitute a reprehensible violation and unilateral abrogation of ceasefire agreement, terming the same as a betrayal of diplomatic efforts and deliberate undermining of the ongoing peace initiatives.

"It is high time the Government of India spelled out loud and clear whether there is ceasefire in Naga areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and accordingly we will deem these areas as conflict zones if so desired," it cautioned.

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