The United Naga Council (UNC) on Monday appealed for peace and unity following violence in Ukhrul district, where an office of the NSCN-IM was set ablaze by a mob amid escalating tensions.
The unrest was triggered after four members of the NSCN Eastern Flank were killed in Kamjong district on Saturday, prompting retaliatory action by an enraged crowd that targeted the outfit’s Wung Tangkhul Region office.
Describing the incident as a “tragic and deeply distressing event” at a time when unity was critical, the UNC condemned the killings as “fratricidal” and warned that such violence among brethren would deepen divisions and threaten the collective future of the Naga community.
“Together, let us shun violence, march in unison, and work towards healing,” the council said in a statement, urging people, particularly Nagas, to reject violence and stand together during the crisis.
The organisation also called on the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN) to clarify the circumstances leading to the killings and demanded decisive action against those responsible. It pressed for a thorough investigation and swift punitive measures to ensure accountability.
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Paying tribute to those killed, the UNC described them as valiant individuals and expressed solidarity with their families, offering condolences and prayers for strength during their bereavement.
The appeal came a day after Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged residents, particularly the Tangkhul Naga community in Ukhrul, to help defuse tensions and support efforts to maintain law and order.
In a statement, Singh expressed sadness over the incident and stressed that “violence cannot bring any solution”. He appealed to all sections to refrain from unrest, adding that the government was treating the matter with seriousness and that “the law should take its own course”.
Ukhrul district remained tense on Sunday following the violence, with authorities closely monitoring the situation.
The latest flare-up underscores the fragility of peace in the hill districts of Manipur, where inter-group tensions continue to pose challenges to stability despite repeated calls for restraint.
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