‘They have not seen our strength’: Temjen Imna Along warns against threats to Siliguri Corridor

Temjen Imna

Strong reactions have emerged from India’s Northeast after radical elements in Bangladesh issued threats targeting the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow but crucial land stretch linking the region to the rest of the country.

Nagaland minister Temjen Imna Along issued a sharp warning, saying those making such statements clearly did not understand the Northeast or its people. His comments came amid heightened online chatter and renewed focus on the strategic vulnerability of the corridor, often referred to as the Chicken’s Neck.

Located in north Bengal, the Siliguri Corridor is around 22 km wide at its narrowest point and serves as the sole land connection between mainland India and seven northeastern states. Any disruption to this route could severely affect connectivity and security in the region.

Responding to the threats, Temjen cautioned leaders across the border against issuing provocative remarks. “They have not seen our strength,” he said. “If they haven’t seen Ghatotkach and Hidimba, they are welcome. We will show them what we are capable of.”

The minister said communities in the Northeast are deeply rooted in the land and understand its terrain far better than outsiders. He warned that any attempt to challenge India’s territorial integrity would be a serious miscalculation.

Referring to figures from the Mahabharat, Temjen invoked Ghatotkach and Hidimba to underline the region’s historical strength. According to the epic, both figures are believed to have originated from the Northeast. Hidimba, Bhim’s wife and Ghatotkach’s mother, is associated with the Dimasa tribe, which has roots in Assam and Nagaland.

Temjen also took issue with the phrase Chicken’s Neck, calling it a media construct. He said the people of the Northeast do not view themselves as weak or cut off and have always stood firmly with the rest of the country.

His remarks on “cutting throats” attracted attention online, though supporters said the statement carried cultural and historical context. Headhunting was once practised in parts of Naga society before being banned in the 1960s.

Historian Tuisem Ngakang had earlier explained, as quoted by India Today, that headhunting was linked to ritual belief systems rather than violence for sport. Nagas believed divine forces would intervene on their behalf during conflict.

The debate around the corridor has also been fuelled by recent remarks from spiritual leader Sadhguru, who said India should have turned the Chicken’s Neck into an “Elephant” after the 1971 war. His comment reopened discussions on defence planning and long-term strategic decisions related to the Northeast.

As rhetoric escalates, leaders from the region have stressed that the Northeast should not be underestimated, even as officials continue to emphasise restraint and diplomacy.