Guwahati: A strongly worded statement released by the NSCN/GPRN (Yung Aung faction), a Myanmar-based Naga group, has vehemently condemned Coal India Limited (CIL) for what it describes as “violent attempts” to forcibly evict Naga villagers and other tribal communities from the Ledo region of Assam’s Tinsukia district.
The NSCN/GPRN further alleges that CIL and its subsidiaries, alongside major players like ONGC and Geo Enpro Petroleum Ltd, have been engaged in decades of illicit extraction of coal and crude oil across the Assam-Arunachal border, with a particular focus on the Tinsukia and Changlang districts. The Tangsa Naga community, who have reportedly been protesting against these extractive operations, have allegedly faced neglect, leading to a significant escalation of tensions in the area.
The statement asserts that “this rampant and unethical mining is closely associated with land grabs and forced displacement of indigenous people,” labeling it as a “deliberate violation of fundamental human rights.” The group claims that the environmental damage caused by these activities has reached irreversible levels, profoundly impacting the “sacred lands of the indigenous Nagas and other tribal communities.” Furthermore, the NSCN/GPRN accuses the governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh of actively collaborating with these mining corporations to suppress local resistance and undermine indigenous identity.
According to the press release, “this is a direct policy to threaten the identity, culture and traditional way of life of the indigenous people and to reduce them to refugee status in their own homeland.” The NSCN/GPRN declared its unwavering support for the Tangsa Nagas, emphasizing their shared ethnic and cultural heritage by stating, “Tangsa people are Nagas by flesh and blood, and their security and well-being are not negotiable.”
In a potentially volatile development, the NSCN/GPRN has hinted at the possibility of “appropriate military action” if the alleged exploitation and displacement continue without intervention. “We will protect the interests of our people and respond to their wishes with appropriate military action,” the statement warns.
The press statement concludes with a firm declaration of intent: “NSCN/GPRN stands firm in our commitment to defend the Naga ancestral land, our natural resources and our national freedom.” This development unfolds against a backdrop of increasing tensions and growing concerns regarding the impact of extractive industries on tribal territories throughout Northeast India. As of the time of this report, neither Coal India nor the governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have issued any public response to these serious accusations.
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