KOHIMA, June 28 — The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today “outrightly rejects” a recent statement by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) on the killing of six Naga civilians, saying the KZC’s remarks seek to divert attention from the abduction and murders and attempt to redefine indigenous Naga identity. The Federation demanded immediate justice and accountability for the victims and called for decisive action against those responsible.
In a press release issued Sunday, the NSF criticised what it called the “divisive and derogatory terminology employed to loosely project the Naga people as ‘Kacha Naga’,” saying such language is an effort to rebrand and marginalise the indigenous community. The Federation accused the KZC of trying to “classify or redefine” Naga identity by compartmentalising the people into “Southern, Northern, Eastern or Western” groups.
The NSF stressed that the Naga nation predates colonial borders and rejected any attempt to impose “artificial frontiers” on a shared history and identity. It called ironic the move by actors whose presence in the Naga homeland, the Federation said, dates only to the British colonial period, to now question or alter indigenous identity. The NSF added that, while the ancestral homeland “may today be scattered by subjugation and militarization,” that history and identity remain intact.
The Federation warned organisations and individuals against pursuing agendas that could weaken Naga unity and urged that historic hospitality extended to neighbouring communities must not be used to undermine the rights, dignity or identity of the indigenous people.
“The issue before us is neither political propaganda nor competing narratives. It is the brutal loss of six innocent Naga civilian lives,” the NSF said, noting that no expression of regret can erase the victims’ abduction, alleged torture, murder and desecration. The Federation demanded that all those involved — including members of what it described as armed Kuki groups and any civilians who participated or facilitated the crime — be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished according to law.
The NSF called on the Government of India to immediately abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki armed groups, alleging that some groups operating under SoO have committed repeated atrocities and human rights violations with impunity. At the same time, the Federation affirmed that the Naga people do not seek conflict with the Indian state and remain committed to peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect, justice and recognition of historical and political rights.
Reaffirming solidarity with the bereaved families, the NSF said their demand for justice “is the demand of every Naga” and pledged to pursue accountability until those responsible are brought to justice. On June 27, the United Naga Council (UNC) appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government for immediate intervention, seeking protection for Naga areas and justice for the six slain civilians; the UNC, the apex body of Manipur’s 21 Naga tribes, made the appeal at a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/nsf-rejects-kuki-zo-council-statement
Category: Nagaland
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Publish Date: 2026-06-28 23:25:00
