Nagaland Minister Recalls Head Hunting Tradition, Warns Bangladesh Over Chicken's Neck Threats

Dimapur: With extremist elements in Bangladesh repeatedly calling for an invasion of India's Chicken's Neck region, Nagaland minister Temjen Imna has warned that such a move will prove to be extremely costly for the neighbouring country.

In a strong warning to political leaders and extremist groups in Bangladesh, Imna asserted that the tribal communities of the Northeast were adept at "slitting throats or necks" and will not take kindly to any misadventure against India.

What did Imna say?

The Nagaland minister referred to Ghatotkach and Hidimba - mythological warriors from the Hindu epic Mahabharat – as he threw an open challenge to radical elements from Bangladesh and underlined the strength and resilience of the various tribes in the Northeast. 

According to the Mahabharat, Ghatotkach and Hidimba were legendary warriors who hailed from the Northeast. Hidimba, who was Bhim's wife and Ghatotkach's mother, belonged to the Dimasa tribe of Assam and Nagaland.

"They have not seen our strength. If they haven't seen Ghatotkach and Hidimba, they are welcome. We will show them what we are capable of," Temjen was quoted as saying by the media.

Temjen, who the chief of the BJP unit in Nagaland, asserted that the Northeast tribes have a greater understanding of the region's terrain than outsiders. 

"As for talk about cutting throats or necks, no one understands these realities better than us," he said.

"There is no Chicken's Neck for us. We are strongly connected with India, and we (people of the northeast) are proud Indians," Temjen added.

What is the Naga tradition of head hunting?

Temjen’s remarks refer to the Naga tradition of head hunting, which was once a major aspect of life for the warlike tribes in Nagaland. The gory tradition involved taking enemy heads as war trophies and has a strong social and ritualistic context in Naga society. The tradition was banned in the 1960s.

"Headhunting wasn't a sport and the deeply devout Nagas believed God would intervene on their behalf," historian Tuisem Ngakang told the media.

What is the Chicken's Neck?

The Chicken's Neck in Siliguri, West Bengal is a thin strip of India territory which connects the rest of the country to the Northeast.

It is 22 kilometres wide lies sandwiched between Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China.