ANSAM has questioned the legitimacy of the Kuki-Zo Council’s statement, saying it neither admits responsibility for the killings nor addresses the legal accountability of the perpetrators.
BY PC Bureau
June 26, 2026 — The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has dismissed the apology issued by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) over the killing of six Naga civilians, saying it does not amount to genuine accountability and cannot substitute the legal prosecution of those responsible for the crime.
In a press statement, the student body said the KZC’s apology was unacceptable in its present form, arguing that it neither accepted responsibility for the killings nor identified those involved in the abduction, torture, and murder of the six victims.
Referring to the statement issued by the Kuki-Zo Council following the incident, ANSAM said it “neither constitutes an apology nor an admission of the unlawful and inhumane crime” and instead deepened the anguish of the Naga community.
Six Civilians Abducted and Killed
The incident dates back to May 13, when six Liangmai Naga civilians were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village, an area claimed by both Naga and Kuki communities amid long-standing territorial disputes.
The abductions occurred hours after unidentified gunmen ambushed two vehicles between Kotlen and Kotzim in Kangpokpi district, killing three Thadou church leaders who were reportedly returning from a peace mission.
According to ANSAM, the six civilians were held captive for nearly a month before being tortured, mutilated and killed. Their bodies were recovered on June 10 from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village following extensive search operations involving security personnel, forensic experts, and sniffer dogs.
The recovery came a day after Naga organisations reportedly facilitated the release of fourteen Kuki-Zo hostages as part of efforts to reduce tensions between the two communities.
READ:
ANSAM Rejects Kuki-Zo Council’s ‘Apology’ as Insulting and Insincere
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) strongly rejects the Kuki-Zo Council’s June 25 apology, calling it insincere and insulting- particularly due to the derogatory term “Katcha Nagas” used… pic.twitter.com/5A7jic7aJ3
— SpeakNaga_X (@SpeakNaga_X) June 25, 2026
‘Justice Cannot Be Replaced by Statements’
ANSAM maintained that no apology could be considered sincere or meaningful unless the perpetrators were identified, arrested, and prosecuted under the law.
“Justice cannot be supplanted by rhetoric, nor can accountability be substituted by carefully crafted declarations bereft of legal consequence,” the association stated.
It added that the killings represented not only a crime against six individuals but also “a grievous assault upon the dignity, security and collective existence of the Naga people.”
Objection to Terminology
The association also criticised the Kuki-Zo Council for using the term “Katcha Nagas” in its statement, describing the expression as historically inaccurate and offensive.
According to ANSAM, such language reflected prejudice rather than genuine remorse and was inconsistent with efforts aimed at reconciliation between communities.
ANSAM also questioned the authority under which the Kuki-Zo Council had issued the apology.
It asked whether the Council was speaking on behalf of those directly responsible for the killings or whether it was itself assuming responsibility for the incident. The association further questioned whether all organisations and communities grouped under the Kuki-Zo umbrella, particularly Zomi organisations, recognised the Council’s authority and endorsed its statement.
Rejects Allegations Linking Nagas to Church Leaders’ Killings
The student body also rejected attempts to associate Naga groups with the killing of three Thadou church leaders.
It said the attack took place between Kotzim and Kotlen Kuki village areas where, according to ANSAM, Naga groups neither exercised control nor maintained any presence.
The association described allegations linking Nagas to the incident as baseless and accused those making such claims of attempting to inflame communal tensions through misinformation.
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Calls for Swift Government Action
Calling for immediate legal action, ANSAM urged both the Government of Manipur and the Government of India to ensure a thorough investigation and the prompt arrest of those responsible for the killings.
It also reiterated its support for the charter of demands submitted by the United Naga Council, stating that symbolic expressions of regret could never replace accountability through the criminal justice system.
Expressing solidarity with the families of the six victims, ANSAM said their deaths should not be overshadowed by what it described as inadequate public statements.
The association maintained that lasting reconciliation between communities could only be achieved through truth, accountability, respect for each community’s identity, acknowledgement of historical realities, and the impartial administration of justice.
The latest exchange of statements comes against the backdrop of continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur, where relations among Naga, Kuki-Zo, and Meitei communities have remained strained amid recurring disputes over land, security, and political representation. The killing of civilians and subsequent hostage incidents have added another layer of complexity to the conflict, prompting repeated calls from civil society organisations and human rights groups for impartial investigations and protection of civilians.
