Arunachal: Wancho community protests growing militant activities of NSCN K-YA

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 30, 2022 | Guriya Khatun

The outraged youth and villagers screamed slogans against the alleged atrocities of the NSCN-KYA, holding placards and banners inscribed with "No Extortion," "No Kidnapping," and "No More Humiliation."

Digital Desk: The
Wancho community, residing in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh took to
the streets on Monday, protesting insurgency in the district.

In
Arunachal Pradesh, members of the Wancho community gathered in huge numbers in
the towns of Longding and Kanubari to organise a massive protest against
alleged illegal taxation and kidnapping by NSCN-KYA militants in the area.

The
outraged youth and villagers screamed slogans against the alleged atrocities of
the NSCN-KYA, holding placards and banners inscribed with "No
Extortion," "No Kidnapping," and "No More
Humiliation."

The emotionally
heated atmosphere during the protest demonstrations reflected the intense
resentment of the rebel group.

According to sources, the NSCN-KYA has recently adopted a
new approach in response to prolonged pressure from security forces' successful
operations against insurgent organisations operating in Arunachal Pradesh's
Longding district and villagers' refusal to pay illegal taxes to outlawed
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To avoid detection by security personnel, NSCN-KYA
operatives are exploiting Nagaland's Mon area as a safe haven to carry out
their unlawful activities.

In Nagaland's border villages, terrorists deceitfully
summon innocent locals for conversation and violently hold them in order to get
a ransom.

Armed insurgency groups from Nagaland's forests have
kidnapped village heads on a few occasions and demanded money.

Outraged by the NSCN-purported KYA's operations, the
Wancho Council – the supreme tribal authority of Longding district –
unanimously decided on May 24 to denounce the faction's alleged illegal
activities.

They asked the Tirap Changlang People's Forum to join
them in expressing solidarity.

According to sources, the protests, which are an open
defiance of insurgent rule, are an indicator of the rebels' waning support base
in the Wancho region.

The Wanchos are a Naga tribe who live in the Patkai highlands
of Arunachal Pradesh's Longding district and they are ethnically connected to
the Nocte of Arunachal Pradesh and the Konyak of Nagaland in terms of culture.

It may be mentioned that Wancho is a Northern Naga
language that belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family.