Chassad: The Office of the Village Volunteer, Eastern Zone (VVEZ) on Thursday, 25th September 2026, has categorically rejected the narrative advanced in the statement/appeal issued by Leisan Asa, Secretary, Wung Tangkhul Region, GPRN, concerning the Pilong village incident. In a press release bearing Ref. No. VVEZ-PR/047/09-26, the VVEZ placed on record its position on ancestral land, historical injustices of the 1990s, and serious clarification regarding the four deceased NSCN-IM cadres.
In its first point on Kuki position on Naga political aspirations, the VVEZ stated that the Kuki people have no objection to the political aspirations of the Naga people. However, it asserted that no political movement or settlement can legitimately extend to the encroachment upon or appropriation of Kuki ancestral lands. The organisation maintained that its stand is straightforward, that it respects the political aspirations of others and expects the same respect for its own ancestral land and political rights. This statement comes amid renewed debate over overlapping territorial claims in the eastern border region.
Elaborating on the unresolved legacy of the 1990s, the VVEZ recalled the violent Kuki-Tangkhul led NSCN-IM conflict of the 1990s which it said resulted in the destruction, abandonment, and loss of numerous Kuki villages and ancestral settlements. According to the VVEZ, it does not seek land belonging to any other community, and its demand is confined only to the restoration and reclamation of Kuki ancestral villages and lands that were lost during the conflict. The organisation linked its present political demand to this historical context.
The VVEZ further clarified that its political demand for a Union Territory with a Legislature comprising Kuki ancestral areas is an independent political demand of the Kuki people. It said this demand is not formulated against, or dictated by, the NSCN-IM. The organisation warned that attempts to mischaracterise or obstruct this political demand will not alter its position, asserting that the Kuki people will continue to pursue their legitimate political aspirations through lawful and democratic means.
In a significant clarification regarding the four deceased NSCN-IM cadres, the VVEZ contested the claim made by the NSCN-IM that they were innocent civilians belonging to Pilong village. The VVEZ stated that none of the four deceased belonged to Pilong village, nor were they innocent civilians. This rebuttal directly counters the NSCN-IM appeal which had described the deceased as villagers.
The organisation made serious allegations regarding the background of the deceased. Based on information and materials in its possession, VVEZ claimed these cadres were transporters associated with a narcotics network operating in the Kamjong district and were linked to an individual described as the 2iC of the NSCN-IM Phungtha Brigade. VVEZ said these are serious allegations and should be subjected to an impartial investigation and verification by the appropriate authorities, rather than being politicised.
The VVEZ said it is in possession of detailed information and supporting material concerning the identities, affiliations, movements, associations, and activities of the individuals concerned. It stated that it stands by the information presently available to it and reserves the right to release further documentary evidence and supporting material into the public domain as circumstances warrant. This indicates that more disclosures may follow if the narrative continues.
Stressing the gravity of the drug issue, the VVEZ said the issue of narcotics and alleged links between armed organisations and illicit networks cannot be dismissed through political statements. It said the matter demands credible investigation, transparency, and accountability from law enforcement and government agencies. The statement also called for an impartial probe into the alleged drug operations in Kamjong district which has long been identified as a sensitive corridor.
Reiterating its core stand, the VVEZ said its position is unambiguous – the Kuki people seek no land that does not belong to them, but at the same time, they will not surrender their ancestral land, historical villages, or legitimate political aspirations under any pressure. It added that no organisation has the authority to dictate the political future of another community or to claim territorial entitlement over the ancestral lands of the Kuki people.
Finally, the VVEZ called upon all concerned to engage with historical facts responsibly, refrain from misrepresentation, and address competing political claims through legitimate political and democratic processes rather than intimidation or distortion. The statement was issued by Information and Publicity, VV Eastern Zone, under the motto “In defence of our Ancestral land”.
