A delegation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from Ukhrul, along with state Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Secretariat in Imphal to discuss the situation in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
In a Facebook post, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said: "Called on by a delegation of Ukhrul CSOs, accompanied by the State Home Minister and MLAs, at the Secretariat today, apprising on the prevailing situation of unrest, tensions, and ongoing developmental concerns in the district."
The Chief Minister also added, "Strengthening infrastructure remains a key priority of the Union government, while removing impediments to communal harmony is essential for inclusive and sustainable progress.
Peace forms the bedrock of all development initiatives, and collective efforts must continue to restore stability and accelerate growth in Ukhrul."
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Despite the killings, the NSCN-IM (Eastern Flank) restated its declared objective of fighting.
Their full statement reads in part: “Today, we mourn the demise of four of our brave and beloved cadres. Their sacrifice to safeguard the nation will not be in vain … The Naga nation will not forget their sacrifice for our beloved cause. May their souls find peace in the hands of the Almighty God. — GPRN, Eastern Flank”
Wider Security Implications
Central agencies have reportedly been alerted to elements exploiting ‘regional politics’ to disrespect the Government of India. Sources have hinted at observations made on the floor of the Nagaland assembly, though official confirmation is pending.
New Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav may be asked to examine these developments.
Analysts describe the Naga secessionist movement as one of India’s oldest insurgencies, dating to the 1946–47 declaration of independence by the Naga National Council (NNC). Such movements, they note, disrupt domestic law and order as well as regional stability at a time of global geopolitical turbulence.
Four cadres of the NSCN (IM) Eastern Flank were shot dead in an ambush at Hongbei village junction, Manipur, on Saturday.
The killings triggered immediate civilian unrest — the public, reportedly most of them Tangkhul Nagas, burned down the Wung Tangkhul Region Secretariat on Sunday evening. The incident lays bare a dangerous deepening of the intra-Naga factional rift between the NSCN-IM Hebron command and its breakaway Eastern Flank operating along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The Ambush: What Happened at Hongbei Village Junction
According to a statement issued by the GPRN (Eastern Flank), four cadres were on duty travelling from Hongbei village toward Kasom Khullen to monitor timber and border trade activities. On their return, at approximately 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm on March 28, 2026, they were stopped at Hongbei village junction by 2nd Lieutenant Mathotmi of Shihai Khunou village and 2nd Lieutenant Starling of Lairam village.
“In the conversation, some of them said “it’s us, let them go.” But 2nd Lieut. Mathotmi of Shihai Khunou village ordered:
“It’s them — we are ordered to shoot.” Thus, they fired indiscriminately at our cadres; four of our brave and beloved cadres were shot on the spot, and two of our cadres escaped from the firing.”
The Four Fallen Cadres (Eastern Flank)
• Major (Posthumous) Sochipem Phungshok — Army No. AX-40200
• Sergeant Major (Posthumous) Zairay Vasah — Army No. 45655/22
• Sergeant (Posthumous) Bahnle Ahlahpya — Army No. 45592/21
• Sergeant (Posthumous) Thansomi Washi — Army No. 44982/19
Public Backlash: Wung Tangkhul Region Secretariat Burned
Following news of the killings, the public in Ukhrul district torched the Wung Tangkhul Region Secretariat on Sunday evening. The act signals the depth of popular anger and the degree to which factional violence within Naga armed groups is destabilising civilian life in Manipur’s hill districts.
A police official in Manipur-capital Imphal said that the angry mob torched the NSCN-IM's Wung regional office after four cadres of the Naga outfit were shot dead, reportedly by members of a rival group, in neighbouring Kamjong district on Saturday.
Competing Statements: Eastern Flank vs. NSCN-IM Hebron
“Such an order to shoot at our own cadres cannot be from a mere 2nd Lieutenant — the order must have come from the highest level: the Collective Leadership or the Longvibu. — GPRN (Eastern Flank)”
The Eastern Flank statement flatly accused senior Hebron leadership of ordering the killing, arguing the chain of command could not have originated with a junior officer.
“No such order was given from General Headquarters. — NSCN-IM”
The NSCN-IM (Hebron) categorically denied issuing any such order, releasing a counter-statement distancing the central command from the shootings.
“Investigation is underway to establish the facts and circumstances leading to this horrific incident,” the NSCN-IM said.
Analysts tracking the Naga insurgency identify a sequence of organisational fractures that explain the current violence:
December 2017: Appointment of Anthony Shimray as Army Chief of NSCN-IM sparked initial disagreements within the Naga Army hierarchy.
The tussle between Shimray’s Hebron command and the Lt. Gen. Hanshi Ramsan / Absolam faction (Eastern Flank) intensified over subsequent years.
December 2025: Handover of charge from Shimary to Honerishadang was intended to resolve the rift — but has not.
The NSCN-IM Hebron has allegedly built a parallel command structure in Myanmar to counter Eastern Flank’s growing influence in Myanmar Naga Hills.
2024–2025: Public media statements and counter-statements by Hanshi R and NSCN-IM Hebron made the split visible, removing any pretence of organisational unity.
Eastern Flank’s announcement of independent taxation in Myanmar Naga Hills is seen by analysts as the proximate trigger for Hebron’s attempts to physically restrict Eastern Flank movement across the Indo-Myanmar border.
Lt. Gen. Hs. Ramsan (Hanshi) led the reorganisation of armed cadres into the Eastern Flank in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division, operating independently of — and increasingly in opposition to — the Hebron-based central command. The Eastern Flank is also associated with Ikato Chishi Swu and Lt. Gen. Absalom Raman.
New Delhi’s Assessment: Extortion and Illegal Trade at the Root
“Things are premature to draw any investigative conclusive remarks … but they are definitely of serious nature and whatever has been gathered indicates the fire-fight occurred over differences in the distribution of extortion money,” said an informed source in New Delhi.
Delhi’s security establishment has sought detailed intelligence on the factional clashes in Manipur. Sources indicate that Hebron leadership is alleged to be keen to retain control of illegal trade — including timber — in Naga-administered areas, and is resisting any Eastern Flank encroachment on these revenue streams. (- The Raisina Hills)
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