Activist asks NHRC to probe Naga deaths in Manipur since February

Naga social activist Ashang Kasar has asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to step in over the deaths of members of the Naga community in Manipur since February 4, 2026, the day Yumnam Khemchand Singh took office as Chief Minister.

Kasar submitted a memorandum to the commission in New Delhi on November 9, according to reports in Ukhrul Times, Imphal Times and NE Now.

How many deaths

Ukhrul Times and NE Now quoted the memorandum as saying that at least 22 Naga people have lost their lives in incidents of violence and armed confrontations during this period. Imphal Times reported the figure as 30. The memorandum is said to include details of each person and the circumstances of the deaths. NEInsider has not seen the document and could not independently confirm the count.

According to Imphal Times, the cases listed involve people from the Tangkhul, Liangmai, Rongmei, Chiru, Poumai, Mao and other Naga communities, including members of the Naga Village Guards. They cover incidents in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tamenglong, Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, among them road ambushes, abductions and armed attacks.

What the activist wants

Citing Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, the memorandum argues that the repeated incidents raise serious questions about whether the state did enough to protect lives. It asks the NHRC to:

• take suo motu cognisance of the deaths
• order an independent and impartial inquiry into the incidents
• examine how the state administration and security agencies responded
• recommend relief, compensation and rehabilitation for the families
• fix accountability and push for steps to prevent more deaths

"The right to life is a fundamental human right that must be protected without discrimination," Kasar wrote, appealing to the commission to act "in the interest of justice, accountability, and lasting peace in Manipur".

The NHRC has not publicly responded to the memorandum so far.

The wider context

Naga bodies have been raising similar concerns for months. The Tangkhul Naga Long recently sought an NIA probe into attacks on Naga civilians between April and August. The most prominent case is the abduction of 18 Liangmai Naga civilians in Kangpokpi on May 13, six of whom were later found dead. Their remains are due to be laid to rest on November 16.

The state government says the National Investigation Agency is handling the killing of the six men. Chief Minister Khemchand has told the Assembly that the probe is progressing, and the government has said four people have been arrested in that case, with more arrests expected.