The Nagaland Students’ Federation moved the United Nations Human Rights Council after a Manipur ambush, warning against attacks on Naga communities.
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KOHIMA — Under the soft glow of candlelight, grief hung heavy in the air—but so did resolve—as the Nagaland Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday warned against further attacks on Naga communities and sought international attention to what it described as a pattern of violence during a vigil for two men killed in an April 18 ambush.
Hundreds gathered at Naga Solidarity Park to mourn late Chinaoshang Shokwungao, a ‘retired personnel of the Nagaland Regiment’, and late Garuingam Vashum, who were shot dead at TM Kasom village along NH-202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district by suspected ‘armed Kuki militants.’
Addressing the gathering, NSF president Mteisuding Heraang said that the vigil was “not only an expression of grief but a declaration” of unity against injustice.
He cautioned that the restraint shown by Naga communities over the years should not be misconstrued.
Also read: Organisations condemn April 18 Ukhrul killings of Naga civilians
“Our patience must not be mistaken for weakness. We have exercised restraint in the hope of peace and justice, but we will not remain silent if that patience is tested,” he said.
Heraang asserted that while the Naga people remain committed to democratic principles and peaceful coexistence, they would stand firm to defend “our people, our land and our dignity” if provoked further.
He urged adversaries not to exploit the prevailing silence, adding that any attempt to escalate tensions would be met with a united response.
At the same time, speakers stressed that the pursuit of justice must not descend into retaliation.
Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) president Nuheymong Yim, while paying tribute to the victims, said that their ‘sacrifice’ would be remembered but cautioned against vengeance.
“If we seek a unified society, justice must be pursued with a clear conscience, not with hatred,” he said, expressing faith that truth would ultimately prevail.
Yim also appealed to those responsible for the killings to reflect on their actions, stating that violence carried out in the name of justice or peace only deepens divisions and undermines any moral claim.
The event included a reading of the poem “How long must we wait for peace?” by Kohima Press Club president Visü Rita Krocha.
In a parallel move, the NSF announced that it has submitted a memorandum to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), urging it to take “urgent cognisance” of alleged human rights violations against Naga communities.
The memorandum, addressed to UNHRC president Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro and signed by Heraang and NSF general secretary Kenilo Kent, described the April 18 ambush as part of a “grave, systematic and escalating” pattern of attacks.
The document lists multiple incidents between 2023 and 2026 and attributes the recurring ‘aggression by Kuki militants’ to deeper structural issues, including disputes over ancestral land, illegal cultivation activities, proliferation of arms, and gaps in enforcement mechanisms.
The NSF called on the UN body and authorities concerned to ensure accountability, safeguard indigenous rights, and support efforts towards a peaceful and just resolution of the conflict. Thursday’s vigil concluded with prayers and a renewed appeal for unity.