Mizo National Front uprising

Mizo National Front uprising
Part of Insurgency in Northeast India

Planes during the Aizawl bombing
Date28 February 1966 – 30 June 1986
Location
Mizo District, Assam, India. (present-day Mizoram)
Result Uprising crushed
Mizoram Peace Accord
Territorial
changes
No territorial change: Indian Government recaptures the territories seized by MNF
Belligerents
 India

Mizo National Front

  • Mizoram Sawrkar
Supported by:
 China
 Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh
Lt. Gen. Sam Manekshaw
President Laldenga
Vice President Lalnunmawia
Defence Secretary
R. Zamawia
Gen Secy. S.Lianzuala
Foreign secy. Lalhmingthanga
Aizawl Town Zero Hour Operation Leaders
Lalkhawliana
Lalnundawta
Vanlalhruaia
Units involved
1st Battalion, Assam Rifles
5th Battalion, BSF
8th Battalion, Sikh Regiment
2nd Battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles
3rd Battalion, Bihar Regiment
Mizo National Army
Mizo National Army Volunteers
Casualties and losses
59 killed
126 wounded
23 missing
95 killed
35 wounded
558 captured

The Mizo National Front uprising (Mizo: Rambuai) was a revolt against the government of India aimed at establishing a sovereign nation state for the Mizo people, which started on 28 February 1966. On 1 March 1966, the Mizo National Front (MNF) made a declaration of independence, after launching coordinated attacks on the Government offices and security forces post in different parts of the Mizo district in Assam. The government retaliated and recaptured all the places seized by the MNF by 25 March 1966.

In the initial response of the government operations to suppress the rebellion in 1966, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes in Aizawl; this remains the only instance of India carrying out an airstrike in its own civilian territory. Counter-insurgency operations continued over the next two decades, although the intensity of the rebellion diminished over time progressively. In 1986, the government and the MNF signed the Mizoram Peace Accord, thereby ending the rebellion.