Imphal: Gen. (Retd.) Anthony Ningkhan Shimray, former Naga Army Chief, on Tuesday dismissed as “completely baseless and untrue” the recent allegations linking him to the 2019 killing of Arunachal Pradesh MLA Tirong Aboh.
The allegation was made by Lt. Gen. A. Raman, the newly appointed Longvibu of the provisional government of NSCN (Eastern Flank), during his felicitation programme at Mt. Horeb in Myanmar on July 29, 2026.
In a statement, Shimray, who is now the coordinator of the Indo-Naga peace talks, said all political and military affairs relating to Arunachal Pradesh were administered and supervised solely under the directives of the NSCN/GPRN Prime Minister’s Office.
He clarified that responsibility for Arunachal Pradesh’s affairs was handed over to the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Naga Army only on March 15, 2021, by the Prime Minister’s Office due to administrative exigencies.
“I knew nothing and had not issued any directives or given any orders related to that gruesome assassination that took place on May 21, 2019, because Arunachal Pradesh’s affairs were never under the jurisdiction of the GHQ until March 15, 2021,” Shimray said.
Referring to the ongoing Indo-Naga political process, Shimray said it was “extremely sad and pitiful” that the political vision of the provisional government had narrowed to what he described as “the lowest form of politics”.
He questioned whether the politics of the Eastern Flank had “stooped so low” as to tarnish an individual’s legacy and position through what he termed false allegations and a “cheap smear campaign” aimed at assassinating the character of a veteran national worker.
Calling for unity, Shimray urged all Naga groups to refrain from internal divisions and false campaigns and instead remain united in Christ with a common vision, striving together for “one nation, one people.”
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