According to the Eastern Flank, the ambush was premeditated. Earlier friendly exchanges between the units gave way to a deadly shooting when orders from senior leadership reportedly commanded “It’s them we are ordered to shoot.”
BY PC Bureau
March 29, 2026: In a stark revelation of internal strife, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) confirmed that four of its cadres were killed by members of their own faction ” at the behest of the top leadership” in an ambush near the Indo-Myanmar border late Saturday night.
An official statement issued Sunday by the Eastern Flank of the Naga Army (under NSCN/GPRN) alleged that the attack was orchestrated by a segment of the outfit acting on high-level orders.
The ambush occurred between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Hongbei village junction. The deceased, who were posthumously promoted, have been identified as Major Sochipem Phungshok, Sergeant Major Zairay Vasah, Sergeant Bahnle Ahlahpya, and Sergeant Thansomi Washi. Two other cadres managed to escape the attack.
Lieut. Gen. A. Raman, in the statement, directly accused the group’s senior leadership, asserting that an order to open fire on their own personnel “cannot come from a mere 2nd Lieutenant” and must have originated from the highest echelons, either the Collective Leadership or the Longvibu.
READ: Four NSCN Cadres Killed in Factional Ambush in Manipur’s Kamjong
A Premeditated Strike
According to the Eastern Flank, the victims had been deployed in the Kasom Khullen area to monitor timber and commercial operations along the border. The timeline provided points to a deliberate and calculated ambush.
At around 4:30 p.m., the patrol reportedly crossed paths with 2nd Lieut. Mathotmi of Shihai Khunou and 2nd Lieut. Starling of Lairam at the Hongbei junction. Both groups spent time together, exchanging pleasantries and discussing a united front against alleged adversaries who were purportedly using “the Kukis as a proxy.”
Hours later, the situation turned deadly. As the patrol returned from Kasom Khullen, they were intercepted at the same junction by Mathotmi and Starling’s unit. Despite objections from some members who recognized their comrades and suggested letting them go, 2nd Lieut. Mathotmi reportedly issued the command: “It’s them we are ordered to shoot.” Indiscriminate firing ensued, killing the four cadres instantly.
The Eastern Flank’s condolence message mourned the fallen, emphasizing that their sacrifice “will not be in vain,” while warning that the Naga nation is “on the verge of annihilation.”
