The NSCN KYA made its appearance after Khango Konyak was made NSCN -K Chief on 20th June 2017 at the death of SS Khaplang. The NSCN - KYA faction emerged from the Eastern Myanmar's Naga inhabited areas as oppositionto Khango group that belonged to Mon District of Nagaland or the Western Naga inhabited areas.It is led by Yung Aung, who is the nephew of S. S. Khaplang, and it operates primarily in the Nagainhabited regions of Myanmar. This group split into Reformation even when Khaplang was alive,and after his death Niki Sumi and later on the newly formed NSCN-KYA saw Starson Lankang and Nyemlang Konyak left the group.
The NUG(National Unity Government) which was formed in April 2021 following the military coup in Myanmar, is an opposition government composed of elected representatives, ethnic leaders, and other groups opposed to the military junta. In an effort to strengthen its resistance against the military regime, the NUG has sought alliances with various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), including the NSCN-KYA. But the group that had a
love -hat relationship with Myanmar Army had maintained neutrality in the current conflict,but also operating a shadow ceasefire with the Myanmar Army.
The NSCN-KYA’s alliance with NUG , although not fructifying at the moment,indicates a strategic position in which both parties share common interests in opposing the Myanmar Military. For the NSCN-KYA, this alliance provides an opportunity to strengthen its position and leverage in the region, while for the NUG, it expands their network of support among ethnic armed groups.
This collaboration also reflects the complex dynamics of insurgent politics in Myanmar, where various ethnic groups and insurgent factions often align with or oppose each other based on changing political circumstances.From April 28’ 2001 and March 27’ 2015 the outfit maintained a ceasefire on agreement with Myanmar. It was on 27th March the outfit abrogated its ceasefire and went into combat mode.In between in 2012 the NSCN-K had inked a local truce with the Sagaing provincial administration also.
A Myanmar based independent newspaper reported the death of 15 soldiers of Myanmar MilitaryCouncil, which on later corroboration turned out that four were Meiteis, which comprise the majority of the VBIGs (Valley Based Insurgent Group)s that had taken safe shelters across the border in Myanmar. Another ambush followed by pro-democracy groups in village near Onziya killing three PLA leaders in September 2022.More attacks in December 2022 this time on Shanni Nationalities Army(Red) aligned militia group with Myanmar Army was targeted and seven were killed.
The Myanmar Army had since middle of May 2021 had engaged the VBIGs for joining hands with its forces and militias.to attack the Chin revolutionary forces that are shaped as PDFs(Peoples Defense Forces)to protect the Kuki-Chin ethnic tribes independence demand since early 1960s,The PDFs of the Kuki Chin group that carried out the attack belonged to the 1st Battalion of Tamu PDF, KNA (Burma) and Kabaw Chin National Defense Forces.
People’s Defense Force is an umbrella term for three types of armed groups that have emerged since the coup: PDFs, Local Defense Forces (LDFs) and People’s Defense Teams (PaKhaPha/PDTs). The PDFs are generally larger armed units formed or recognized by the National Unity Government (NUG), the shadow civilian government formed primarily by democratically elected lawmakers.
The PDFs operate under the command of the Central Command and Coordination Committee (C3C) and Joint Command and Coordination (J2C), which were established by the NUG and its EAO allies. Regardless of their national-level affiliation, PDFs work most closely with military division commands (MDCs), which operate semi-autonomously of the C3C and J2C.
According to estimates that there were 401 LDFs as of April 2022. The LDFs operate more autonomously than the PDTs and LDFs do not directly interact with the C3C or J2C, but 354 are now informally linked with the NUG. This enhanced coordination is a first step toward integrating the LDFs into the broader command system. One hundred LDFs have been converted to PDFs and dozens have been converted to
PDTs.Mostly formed in mid-March 2021 to protect protesters, the LDFs continue to operate as township-based militias, often led by activists.The LDFs are self-funded, primarily through community and diaspora donations. They rely mostly on homemade weapons, though some LDFs are connected with large EAOs which provide training and equipment.Operationally, the LDFs engage in irregular warfare through landmines, skirmishes, sabotage and targeted killings.
The PDTs, also known as PaKaPha, are formed by the NUG, and specialize in urban guerilla warfare, basic training for new resistance fighters, logistics, public mobilization and PDF support.According to the NUG, the PDTs have been formed in 250 out of 330 townships. Over the past six months, they have significantly expanded formation at the village level. The PDTS are most active in central Myanmar, particularly Sagaing and Magwe regions.
Although PDTs operate at the village level, many coordinate at the township level. A single township can, therefore, have as many as 2,000 PDT members coordinating. Most PDTs are primarily equipped withhomemade small arms.
Chin Land Joint Defense Committee (CJDC)The CJDC was formed as part of the Spring Revolution and is made up of 18 Chin defence forces, including the CAN that are organised by townships and regions. The CJDC adjudicates and negotiates when there are misunderstandings and disagreements between its members.
In response to the attack, another Chin defence force, the Falam Township based Chin National Organisation/Chin National Defense Force (CNO/CNDF), issued a statement
condemning the incident.It said that the attack had violated the rules of engagement drawn up by the Chin Land Joint Defense Committee (CJDC), an association of 18 different Chin defence organisations.
These PDFs operate ahead of the main EAOs (Ethnic Armed Organisations) and the bad news for the 700-800 VBIGs sited in Chin Province and Sagaing Region of Myanmar along the 1643 km border is the new fear of ambush by the PDFs of the Kuki Chin ethnic EAOs and their PDFs. As the Civil war rages on in Myanmar since early 2021 and Manipur Meitei and Kuki clash since May 2023, the odds are stacked against the VBIGs On the one hand Indian Army is flushing them out from the Imphal Valley to restore normalcy in Manipur, and in Myanmar this time is clearly not conducive to them. If they move north to Sagaing, they lose the support of the Valley people, and if they stay near the Tamu border with Manipur in the Kabaw Valley, they had to face the onslaught of the Chin Kuki groups.
The Myanmar Army’s attack on the Taga Headquarters of NEIGs in January 2019 was a significant military operation that targeted militant groups operating along the Myanmar-India border. This region has long been a haven for various insurgent groups from Northeast India. Despite the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, which saw the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) take control of the government, the military’s stance on these insurgent groups has largely remained unchanged.
On November 13, 2021, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, commanding officer of the 46 Assam Rifles, was ambushed and killed. The attack took place at S. Sehken village, near Behiang Police Station, close to the India-Myanmar border (IMB), near pillar 43 in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
The ambush is believed to have been carried out by insurgent groups, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF).On June 4, 2015, 18 soldiers of the 6th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment were killed in an ambush in Chandel district, Manipur. The attack took place between Paralong and Charong villages. The insurgent groups, including the NSCN-K, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) jointly claimed responsibility for the attack, which is considered one of the deadliest against Indian Army personnel in the region.
On May 22, 2016, the Coordination Committee (CORCOM), an umbrella group of several militant organizations in Manipur, claimed for the attack in Joupi under Tengnoupal district at Hengshi village. The ambush targeted personnel from the 29 Assam Rifles (AR), resulting in the death of six soldiers and injuries to seven others.
On June 29, 2020, a joint attack by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF), and the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa-I) targeted an Assam Rifles patrol team and killed 3 personnel at Khongtal village, located under Chakpikarong in Chandel district, Manipur.
Some VBIGs(Valley Based Insurgent Groups) are reported to be involved in the violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023-2024.Thus, the attack on Indian security forces is even seen in 2023-24, as insurgent violence resurfaced in Manipur.The NEIGs all come under one roof in Myanmar’s Sagaing province. The PLA of Manipur and other VBIGs(Valley Based Insurgent Groups)are under a coalition called CORCOM.The Naga groups
of the NEIGs are also stationed in Sagaing and keep a faction of their force, to again start an insurgency if ceasefire breaks down with GOI.The Ulfa(I),of Assam maintains overlapping interests with both the Myanmar Naga group NSCN, KYA, and NEIGs Naga groups and CORCOM.
The result of this inter-mingling of NEIGs are not restricted to Myanmar alone. While conducting ops in TLC(Tirap, Longding and Changlang) districts of Arunachal Pradesh that shares the Indo-Myanmar border, see Ulfa(I) and NSCN, KYA cadres conducting joint operations.On December 21’ 2020 instances of NSCN-KYA jointly operating with the Ulfa(I) in the abduction of Quippo Oil company employees from Changlang district came to light. Two operations by NSCN-KYA in Tirap and Longding on 18th and 31 st May 2021 came to light when they engaged in.heavy firefight with Assam Rifles and in the later instance tried to kidnap a Wangsu villager but without success.Earlier on 22 May 2021 a gun battle at Hatlong resulted in the death of a 19 AR soldier.
On October 25, 2024, an incident took place in the Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh, involving a confrontation between security forces and suspected militants. SS Major Gangjun Gangsa of NSCN-KYA was gunned down in the Wakka circle’s Chop village during a counter-insurgency operation.
During the early 2000 the situation in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh became disturbed. This was a situation that the state had not experienced ever since its creation in 1987. Militant groups of both factions of NSCN began to shift their animosity from Myanmar to Tirap-Changlang after it split in
1988.The situation prompted Arunachal government to launch ‘Ops Hurricane’. This also signaled the renewed focus of Government of India to renew contacts within the senior leaders of NSCN-K, like Chipu Mennon.SS Khaplang had taken Chipu, whose father is Malayalee, the same was he raised Yang Aung, the present Chief. Yung Aung is of Meitei descent.
The internecine feud among the Naga factions as also the demand for an Eastern Naga state from the Konyak and Sumi among the main Eastern Naga tribes was also a long standing demand of these tribes. They feel that the Angami and Lothas were the real beneficiaries of the Nagaland state. GOI on the other hand by engaging with some Naga factions was trying to keep tab on Ulfa, after the KIA (Kachin Independence Army)signed ceasefire with the Tatmadaw also ending its coziness to India. Ulfa by then had maintained a skeletal force in Myanmar, but shifted out to Bangladesh. The plains terrain of Bangladesh suits them, and crossing the Patkai Bum and the hard life in Nayung and Papung camps of Ulfa were difficult for the cadres, that caused the outfit to lose cadres by defection.
After the junta coup in 2021 Sagaing became a contested zone, and KIA had stepped up attacks against Tatmadaw forces aided by the PDFs NSCN, KYA are nuetral in this conflict and the NEIGs are taking a pro-junta position for maintaining their base inside Myanmar. This is the first time KIA and NEIGs are in the opposite camp and fighting will draw these NEIGs into a collision course with the Kachins.
The NSCN-KYA reportedly has camps at-Haukyat, Khanmoi, Lohan, Kamai and Pangsau – in the Sagaing Division of Myanmar. These are areas falling along the main locus of
operations of the militant group in India – Tirap, Changlang and Longding Districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Mon District of Nagaland.
The most recent split in KYA occurred on June 23 in Angmai and KYA.The latter lost all ground inside Mon and Longding (except Khammoi or Lozl and Langkhoi vill )where Maj Gen Piyong Konyak have some hold.The sudden turn of events made Angmai Group now being wooed by Ulfa(I). The Angmai Group signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar Army and they stand to benefit from the truce. Two recent reverses by KYA group in Longding district on 9th and 25th Oct’ 24 where they lost two cadres in the first and lost a Major ranked officer in the second had put them in the backup.