A leading Naga organisation has in an open letter to a senior Assam Rifles official complained against the “unlawful surveillance and infiltration of private Naga WhatsApp Group” by personnel of the country’s oldest paramilitary force.

The Kohima-based Global Naga Forum (GNF), a group dedicated to promoting peace and unity amongst Naga people and opposing human rights violations, in its open letter addressed to Major General Manish Kumar, the inspector-general of the Assam Rifles (North), has sought “immediate action on a serious offence of unlawful surveillance and intrusion into GNF’s private WhatsApp forum committed by Assam Rifles personnel, Major Narendra, posted at Avangkhu, Nagaland”.

Avankhu is in Phek district of Nagaland bordering Myanmar. Of the total 1,643km India-Myanmar border, a stretch of 215km falls in Nagaland. Nagas living on either side of the border share family and trade ties.

The GNF letter said: “Major Narendra clandestinely embedded himself into the GNF forum and surreptitiously monitored our conversations and gathered internal information for over five months, until we recently discovered his presence and deleted him from the group.”

The letter was signed by GNF convener Chuba Ozuküm, co-convenor Prof Rosemary Dzüvichü, general secretary James Pochury and secretary Prof Paul Pimomo. A copy was also marked to “Major Narendra”.

Efforts to get a reaction from the army and the Assam Rifles proved futile. Assam Rifles guard the Indo-Myanmar border in Nagaland.

The snooping allegation has come days ahead of the resumption of the peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) from October 14 to end the decades-old Naga insurgency.

The GNF letter also explained how “Major Narendra” allegedly got into its Whatsapp group.

“On 24th April 2024, Mr Thongtsumiu, a GNF member and WhatsApp group Admin, was stopped and interrogated by Major Narendra while crossing the border. During this encounter, the Major brazenly confiscated Mr Thongtsumiu’s mobile phone, and in an act of outright coercion demanded that he be added to the GNF group. When Mr Thongtsumiu refused, because the group was for Nagas only, Major Narendra threatened Mr Thongtsumiu and denied him passage into Nagaland at the check post, forcing him to return to his village on the Myanmar side of the Naga homeland.”

The GNF asserted that there was “no legal justification” for such unlawful surveillance in a “democratic and civilised society” while taking “grave offence at his brazen infringement on our basic rights”. The Forum also said “Major Narendra’s arrogant behaviour and utter disregard for Mr Thongtsumiu’s dignity and feelings was most unbecoming of an officer of his rank”.