South Asia Terrorism Portal
Nagaland: Uncertain Peace Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On March 22, 2021, unidentified gunman in ‘camouflage’ killed three Zeliang tribesmen – Itingwangbe Haikam, Hangyi and Asiambo – in an area located at the border between the Peren and Dimapur Districts of Nagaland.
Zeme Council-Nagaland (ZC-Nagaland) president, Tumda Newme, accused Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Kitovi-Neopak (NSCN-KN) cadres for their involvement in the incident. NSCN-KN ‘chairman’ M.B. Neokpao Konyak and Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) N. Kitovi Zhimomi denied their involvement and expressed deep sorrow over the killing of three “Zeliang brothers” by unknown assailants.
On March 2, 2021, NSCN-KN cadres had abducted three civilians from Lamhainamdi village in Peren District. The trio was safely released on March 15, 2021, after Zeliang civil society groups made a representation to Governor R. N Ravi.
Significantly, NSCN-KN is a major constituent of the Naga National Political Group (NNPG), a militant conglomerate involved in talks with the Government of India (GoI). The NNPG comprises of seven Naga militant groups: NSCN-KN, NSCN-Reformation faction (NSCN-R), NSCN-Khango Konyak faction (NSCN-K2) and four factions of the Naga National Council (NNC) – Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), NNC-Parent Body, Non-Accordist faction of NNC/National People's Government of Nagaland (NPGN/NNC-NA), and the Government Democratic Republic of Nagaland/ NNC-NA (GDRN). The NNPGs were included in talks with GoI on September 27, 2017, in an effort to widen the peace talks.
The March 22 killing is the lone incident of killing reported in 2021, thus far (data till March 28). According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the State registered two insurgency-linked fatalities, both militants, in two separate incidents in 2020. These were the lowest ever fatalities recorded in a year in the State since 1992, with the previous low of three recorded in 2010. There were four such fatalities, including one civilian, two Security Force (SF) personnel and one militant, in three incidents in 2019. There were seven fatalities (three SF personnel and four militants) in 2018, and eight fatalities (three civilians, one trooper, four militants) in 2017. Fatalities have thus been on a continuous decline since 2018.
At the peak of the insurgency, Nagaland recorded 360 fatalities (104 civilians, 38 SF personnel, and 218 militants) in 1997. The highest civilian fatalities in a year, 144, were recorded in 1996. The maximum number of SF personnel killed, 48, was also in 1996.
In 2020, the geographic spread of the violence was also limited. Fatalities were recorded in two Districts – Zunheboto (1) and Tuensung (1) – as against three Districts in 2019 – Mon (2), Dimapur (1) and Kohima (1).
One incident of explosion (no fatality) was reported in 2020 as against two such incidents resulting in two fatalities (both SF personnel) in 2019. One incident of internecine clash resulting in the death of one militant was reported in 2020, as against two such incidents (one militant fatality) in 2019. Turf wars between various Naga militant factions to expand influence and dominance were common till 2015. There were no such clashes in the subsequent three years (2016, 2017 and 2018). These incidents were also recorded beyond the State. Fatalities resulting from instances of internecine clashes between Naga militant groups outside Nagaland increased slightly from one militant, in Arunachala Pradesh, in 2019, to three militants, in Manipur, in 2020. Although, the fatalities increased, the number of incidents reduced from three in 2019 to two in 2020.
Meanwhile, SFs arrested 117 militants in 59 incidents, adding to 187 militants arrested in 108 incidents in 2019. Those arrested in 2020 included 56 from NSCN-IM; 12 from NSCN-K Khango Konyak;