A letter allegedly issued by the NSCN-K (YA), a Naga insurgent group, demanding payment of “service and income tax” from the Public Works Department (PWD) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district has surfaced on social media, creating concern among officials and residents in the area. Authorities have confirmed that they are examining the matter, though no official confirmation has yet been made regarding the authenticity of the letter.
According to reports, the letter asks the PWD authorities in Longding to deposit 20 percent of their “service and income tax” for the year 2026 without delay. The message also carries a warning stating that failure to comply would make the concerned officials “responsible” for any consequences. The document has been widely circulated online over the past few days, drawing attention to the issue of extortion demands allegedly made by underground groups operating in the region.
The NSCN-K (YA), a faction of the Naga insurgent movement, is believed to operate mainly from bases across the international border in Myanmar but is said to have influence in parts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Security agencies have been monitoring the activities of different insurgent factions in these areas for several years, as such groups have often been accused of issuing similar demands to government offices, contractors, and businesses.
Sources familiar with the matter said that it is not yet clear whether the letter was issued by the main leadership of the organisation or by local operatives claiming to represent the group. Investigating agencies are attempting to verify the origin of the document and determine whether any official communication of this kind was actually sent to the department. Officials have so far avoided making detailed comments, stating that inquiries are still in the early stages.
