Published by Aloto Naga | July 3, 2025
Konyak Union Warns ULFA(I) to Cease Operations in Mon District
Mon, Nagaland — July 4, 2025: The Konyak Union (KU), the apex tribal body of the Konyak Naga community, has issued a strong warning to the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) — ULFA(I) — demanding the immediate cessation of all activities within Mon district. The Union reaffirmed its 2021 resolution barring any form of insurgent presence in the region and emphasized that the community will no longer remain passive if ULFA(I) continues to operate in their territory.
In a statement issued on July 3, the KU said it has received credible reports of ULFA(I) members operating in and around Mon, with reports of abductions and extortion in bordering Assam districts. Describing these acts as clear violations of their earlier warning, the KU declared it would take unspecified action if the banned group failed to withdraw.
The Union also appealed to Indian security forces deployed in the district to act with professionalism and avoid indiscriminate arrests. According to the KU, many innocent daily wage workers and civilians have been wrongly implicated as militants or sympathizers, forcing families to sell ancestral lands to post bail or fight legal battles.
The statement highlighted deep concern that despite the trauma caused by past events — including the 2021 Oting massacre — no substantial changes have been made to prevent civilian casualties or protect innocent people during anti-insurgency operations.
“We are not against security forces doing their duty. But innocent lives should not be destroyed under the guise of national interest,” the KU said, urging for verification and restraint before legal action.
ULFA(I), banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has long operated in Assam and parts of Nagaland. The group’s presence in the dense, hilly terrain of Mon district is viewed as strategic. Local residents have raised concerns about being caught between state forces and armed insurgents.
So far, there has been no official response from ULFA(I) or Indian military authorities. However, the KU’s renewed warning marks a significant escalation in public tribal opposition to insurgent movements in Nagaland, particularly as community-led governance continues to play a major role in regional stability.
The KU concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to peace and protecting the interests of the Konyak people:
“We want to ensure Mon district remains free from violence and fear — whether from insurgents or state authorities. Peace is the collective responsibility of all.”
Source: Morung Express
