Nagalim Voice August 2026
Ceasefire Without Accountability Is No Ceasefire At All
Ceasefire Ground Rules are more than operational guidelines. They are confidence-building mechanisms designed to reduce armed confrontation and violence, protect civilian populations, and create conditions conducive to political dialogue. These rules exist because trust is fragile, and more so in occupied Nagalim, where decades of armed confrontation have shaped relations primarily with India and between communities. Without adherence to them, a ceasefire becomes meaningless.
The effectiveness of any ceasefire agreement depends upon the professionalism and accountability of the armed actors. And when these agreed standards are violated, public confidence in the peace process is seriously undermined. The principle is simple: rules intended to preserve peace must apply equally to everyone.
The recent incidents involving the Assam Rifles regarding non-compliance with the Ceasefire Ground Rules raise serious questions about whether the agreed Ground Rules are being honoured in practice:
1) Clause (d) of the Ceasefire Ground Rules, which prohibits Indian security personnel from wearing masks during operations. On 9 February 2026, the Assam Rifles personnel conducted operations at Litan Sareikhong while wearing masks. They vandalized civilian properties and facilitated the attacks by Kuki groups that resulted in the destruction of the village. Such actions constitute a direct departure from the transparency and accountability that Clause (d) seeks to ensure.
2) Clause (h), which prohibits providing safe havens, sanctuaries, or assistance to militants. In total disregard of the agreement, the Assam Rifles personnel supplied food and logistical support to Kuki militants and facilitated their movement through Naga villages. Public protests have occurred in parts of Ukhrul and Senapati districts over this inappropriate collaboration between Indian security personnel and Kuki armed terrorist groups.
3) On March 9, 2026, AR personnel vandalized and desecrated a church in Samziuram village, in Peren district. Places of worship are protected spaces that carry profound religious, cultural, and social significance. Any deliberate damage to such sites represents not only a breach of legal obligations (CF Ground Rules) but also a violation of internationally recognized human rights principles concerning freedom of religion and protection of civilian property.
4) On April 25, 2026, as witnessed by the world, an Assam Rifles convoy ramped right through women protesters, resulting in injuries and widespread fear among civilians. The use of force against peaceful demonstrators, particularly women participating in community protests, raises important questions regarding proportionality, operational discipline, and respect for the rights of civilians.
5) On 14 July, the AR personnel provoked the public when they deliberately and aggressively entered within a few metres of the Huthrong Brigade headquarters, at Makuilongdi village in Senapati district, leading to heightened tensions in the area. This is a brazen violation of CF Ground Rules.
The larger Issue is not merely whether individual violations occurred. The real question is: what is the value of Ground Rules if one party can ignore them without consequence?
The legitimacy of ceasefire arrangements depends upon the perception that all parties are held to the same standards. A ceasefire survives on credibility. The Government of India rightly expects all ceasefire groups to comply with the Ground Rules. That expectation carries equal force for the Indian security agencies acting on its behalf. Accountability is not an obstacle to effective security operations.
However, these violations have been ignored, and no visible action has been taken to address the matter at hand. If these behaviours are disregarded or enforced selectively, they risk becoming bigger and harder to contain, with direct consequences arising out of these breaches. In brief, the path back to violence becomes dangerously short.