Guwahati : Several Naga civil society organisations have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a series of alleged attacks on Naga villages in Manipur, accusing Kuki militant groups operating along the Indo-Myanmar border of escalating violence in the region.

In a memorandum submitted in New Delhi on May 9, the organisations described the incidents as a “proxy war” targeting the Naga community and claimed the attacks undermine the spirit of the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) on August 3, 2015.

The memorandum was jointly submitted by the United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur. It was signed by UNC president Ng Lorho, NWU president Ch Priscilla Thiumai and ANSAM president Th Angteshang Maring.

Seeking what they termed the Prime Minister’s “personal and urgent intervention”, the organisations alleged that Kuki militant groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, along with the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), were carrying out coordinated attacks in Naga-inhabited areas.

The memorandum accused the armed groups of engaging in “targeted killings, burning of ancestral villages, highway terrorism and systematic extortion” across parts of Manipur and the border region.

The organisations further alleged that the SoO arrangement had effectively turned into a “licence for territorial expansion” and claimed repeated violations of the agreement’s ground rules by armed groups operating under the pact.

Referring to the 2015 Framework Agreement, the Naga bodies said continued violence and the alleged “appeasement” of Kuki militant groups threatened both the ongoing peace process and security along the frontier areas.

The memorandum also claimed that several Naga villages, which had earlier provided shelter to displaced Kuki civilians and refugees fleeing unrest in Myanmar following the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023, later came under attack.

The organisations cited incidents reported in Sinakeithel, Litan, S Laho, Sakarphung, Thoyee and Ringui, alleging repeated attacks and sieges targeting Naga villages.

Referring to incidents on May 7 in Namlee-Wanglee, Z Choro and Kaka villages along the India-Myanmar border, the memorandum alleged that nearly 100 KNA(B) militants crossed into Indian territory and launched coordinated assaults on the settlements.

The groups also raised concern over the alleged use of drones, rocket launchers and other military-grade weapons during the attacks, describing the situation as a “foreign-backed invasion” rather than internal communal violence.

Questioning the preparedness and response of security forces deployed in the region, the organisations demanded a judicial inquiry into the recent attacks and the alleged security lapses.

Among the key demands placed before the Centre were immediate action against KNA(B), the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and SoO militant groups allegedly operating in Naga areas, protection of Naga territorial integrity, restoration and security of national highways – particularly the Ukhrul-Imphal route – and an early conclusion to the Indo-Naga political settlement based on the Framework Agreement.

The organisations said the Naga people had consistently supported peaceful dialogue and urged the Centre to translate the Framework Agreement into a permanent political settlement.

Copies of the memorandum were also submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.