Senapati commemorates 'Operation Bluebird, 1987'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, July 09 2025: The 37th commemoration of the infamous 'Operation Bluebird, 1987' or 'Onae Reh Dah' was held Wednesday at the conference hall of Maram Union at Old Monday market, here, on Wednesday.

The commemoration event was organised by the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and hosted by Poumai Naga Union (PNU) .

After paying tributes to victims of Operation Bluebird, former general secretary of Naga Students' Federation (NSF) Siipunii Ng Philo recounted the horror of Operation Bluebird, reminding that 27 people were killed, three women raped, five women molested, two pregnant women were forced to deliver in open field, 340 villagers severely tortured and 96 villagers arrested and detained for weeks.

Senapati commemorates 'Operation Bluebird, 1987'

Additionally, 125 houses were burnt, 172 houses dismantled, 10 churches destroyed and five schools were grounded during the Operation Bluebird, he said and led the gathering in observing one-minute silence in remembrance of the victims.

In his welcome address, Poumai Naga Union (PNU) president RB Pani said Operation Bluebird or Onae Reh Dah (Great battle of Oinam) was a painful event in the Naga history.

He said that the commemoration event is being organised not only to mourn but also to honour the strength and resilience of those who survived the Operation and those who fought for justice.

All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) president Angtesang Maring also joined that commemoration event and paid homage to victims and martyrs mercilessly tortured arid brutally killed by Indian Armed Forces during Operation Bluebird.

ANSAM has been demanding justice since 1987 against such act of human rights violation and providing legal immunity to Indian Armed Forces, he said adding that ANSAM will leave no stone unturned till justice is served.

In his address, United Naga Council vice president N Gonmei Poujan said that the pain of Oinam is not confined to geography but flows through every Nagas vein that longs for justice, peace and self-respect.

Addressing the media after the programme, NPMHR general secretary Neingulo Krome said that stories of the victims of Operation Bluebird ran up to 10,000 pages but judgement never came till date in spite of the extra judicial conduct of the Indian army upon the Naga people.

Nagas do not demand anything from India but asking what is rightfully belong to Nagas, he said adding deliverance of justice must be pursued through any means.

Leaders of various civil society organisations, religious leaders of different denominations, national workers, and UNC, NPO, NWU, NSF and ANSAM leaders also took part in the programme.