First Published: 24th April, 2026 13:01 IST
The NSF has called on the UNHRC to advocate for the protection of indigenous rights, support mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution
Written By Northeast Live Digital Desk
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has sought the intervention of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), alleging systematic human rights violations against the Naga people and escalating aggression by Kuki militants and armed groups in Manipur.
The appeal comes in the wake of the killing of two Naga civilians, Chinaoshang Shokwungnao of Tashar village and Yaruingam Vashum of Kharasom village, who were ambushed on April 18 along NH-202 in Ukhrul district. Terming the incident “heinous and barbaric,” the NSF stated that the attack reflects a broader pattern of targeted violence against Naga communities.
In a memorandum addressed to the President of the UNHRC, the federation urged the international body to take urgent cognisance of what it described as “grave, systematic and escalating” violations, and to ensure accountability for those responsible.
The memorandum outlines a series of incidents between 2023 and 2026, including alleged arson, assaults, and armed attacks on Naga villages. According to the NSF, these acts are part of a coordinated campaign aimed at intimidating and displacing Naga populations in certain areas of Manipur.
Raising further concerns, the federation pointed to alleged encroachment on ancestral lands, expansion of illicit poppy cultivation, proliferation of illegal arms, and what it described as gaps in enforcement mechanisms. It warned that these factors are contributing to a climate of insecurity and impunity.
“The right to life, dignity, property, and the collective rights of indigenous peoples over ancestral lands are being undermined,” the memorandum stated, adding that the cumulative impact of these incidents constitutes an “existential threat” to the Naga people.
The NSF has called on the UNHRC to advocate for the protection of indigenous rights, support mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution, and press concerned authorities to ensure justice and accountability.
Meanwhile, the federation reiterated its commitment to peace, emphasizing that its demand is for justice rather than retaliation. During a candlelight vigil held in Kohima on Thursday, NSF leaders and members of the public paid tribute to the victims and expressed solidarity with their families.
NSF president Mteisuding Heraang stated that the Naga people stand united in grief, while cautioning that their silence should not be misconstrued as weakness. Echoing similar sentiments, Eastern Naga Students’ Federation president Nuheymong Yim stressed the importance of upholding justice to sustain peace in the region.
The federation also contextualized the present situation within the broader history of the Naga political movement, highlighting longstanding assertions of identity, self-determination, and indigenous rights.
As tensions persist in parts of Manipur, the NSF’s appeal to the international community marks a significant step in bringing regional concerns onto a global platform, even as calls for peace and dialogue continue from various quarters.
Also read: Manipur Unrest Deepens: Mulam Village in Ukhrul District Comes Under Armed Attack, One Feared Dead
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