A house in Khamnoi village, Myanmar, is seen destroyed after an alleged drone strike reportedly carried out by Indian security forces across the border on October 20. (Photos: Special Arrangement)
Fresh incident at Khamnoi reflects persistent humanitarian barriers along the border
Morung Express News
Kohima | October 23
Along Nagaland’s porous Indo-Myanmar border, where uncertainty defines existence and fragile peace is guarded by military patrols, cross-border tensions, and armed cadre movement, life unfolds under the constant shadow of fear.
For the populace in those places, human rights violations are not distant reports, but lived realities. In Mon district, where the border divides both land and kin, the people have long endured the risk of conflict, arbitrary restrictions, and the sound of gunfire echoing through the valleys.
The recent drone strike allegedly by Indian armed forces on October 20 in Khamnoi village, near Longwa, once again brought this harsh reality to the fore.
The incident, as per the Eastern Konyak Union, claimed the lives of an 8-year-old schoolgirl and the Assistant General Secretary of Khammoi Students’ Union, while leaving several others injured.
Recounting the incident, Nyamto Wangsha, Honorary Secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Mon District Branch, spoke of the profound challenges his team faced while attempting humanitarian intervention.
“We tried to reach the spot with first aid and medicines and to bring those injured to Mon Civil Hospital,” he said. “But we were restricted from entering the international boundary by the security forces. We had to send the medicines through villagers from Longwa.”
One seriously injured woman, Wangsha added, was carried on foot for nearly four hours before she could be admitted safe medical care. Subsequently, an elderly woman and a minor were hospitalised.
According to Wangsha, this was not the first time humanitarian efforts have been curtailed. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, Red Cross volunteers attempting to reach affected families across the border were restricted by security personnel.
Challenges of life at the border
For communities along the official Indo-Myanmar international boundary, ordinary life often unfolds amid extraordinary hardship.
“These kinds of incidents disrupt daily life and create fear psychosis,” Wangsha said, “as they pose a threat to innocent people and hamper the quality of life and development.”
With limited access to healthcare, education, and essential services, affected families often depend heavily on relief assistance, financial aid, and emotional support.
Amid these challenges, the IRCS Mon Branch has continued its work quietly - responding to fire victims, landslide survivors, and families in distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic Oting incident.
“The Red Cross is not just an organisation but a movement of empathy,” Wangsha reflected. “It is about courage, commitment, and compassion.”
Appealing for broader collective effort, he reminded that humanitarian service “cannot rest on the shoulders of a few.”
He urged individuals, government agencies, churches, and civil society groups to contribute towards building a stronger humanitarian network in the state.
“As a society, irrespective of our status or position, it is our collective duty to address such suffering with compassion and kindness,” he said.
“Let us strive to make a lasting impact, to create a world where everyone has access to dignity, respect and opportunities” he added.
