NSCN (I-M) has made allegations through its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) claiming that Kuki militants utilized “scorched-earth tactics” alongside Indian security forces during the recent Litan burning incident. The group condemned the narrative presented by Kuki organizations as misleading, asserting that security personnel were complicit in the arson. They contended that the incident was triggered by an attack on a Tangkhul individual by “Kuki drunkards,” which subsequently led to targeted assaults on Tangkhul homes.
The NSCN (I-M) statement accused some security personnel of joining the Kuki attackers, with reports of individuals wearing masks to conceal their identities. The group suggested that the Kuki militants operated under security forces’ support, receiving a “green signal” from the Ministry of Home Affairs, framing the attack as a premeditated assault on the Tangkhul Naga community. The statement criticized certain Kuki organizations for portraying themselves as victims while inaccurately assigning blame to the Tangkhuls, citing a letter from the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council to the Prime Minister as evidence of this narrative.
The NSCN (I-M) characterized the involvement of security forces as a significant violation of human rights and a breach of the rule of law, asserting that the Litan incident symbolized “brute aggression” against the Tangkhuls and represented an attack on the Naga nation. They alleged that Kuki militants are serving as a “frontal body” for the Government of India to undermine the political rights of the Naga people and confirmed their commitment to defend their land and community.