March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising
| March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising | |||||||||
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| Part of Insurgency in Northeast India | |||||||||
 Map of Mizoram state (formerly Mizo district) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 India Myanmar
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Mizo National Front (MNF) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Lt Gen Sagat Singh Lt Gen Sam Manekshaw, MC |
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 |
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| Units involved | |||||||||
| 1st Assam Rifles 5th BSF 8th Sikh 11 Gorkha Rifles 3rd Bihar |
Mizo National Army Mizo National Volunteers |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 59 killed 126 wounded 23 missing |
95 killed 35 wounded 558 captured |
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The March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising was a revolt against the Government of India, aimed at establishing a sovereign state for the Mizos. 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 suppressed the uprising and recaptured all the places seized by the MNF by 25 March 1966. Counter-insurgency operations continued over the next few years, although the intensity of the rebellion diminished over time progressively till its complete resolution in the 1986 peace talks. During the Government operations to suppress the rebellion, 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.
Before the formation of the Mizoram state in 1987, the Mizo-dominated areas in India were a part of the Mizo district of the Assam state. The Mizo organisations, including the Mizo Union, had long complained of step-motherly treatment at the hands of the Assam Government, and demanded a separate state for the Mizos.
Every 48 years, a cyclic ecological phenomenon called Mautam leads to widespread famine in this region. When such a famine started in 1959, the Mizos were left disappointed by the Assam Government's handling of the situation. The introduction of Assamese as the official language of the state in 1960, without any consideration for the Mizo language, led to further discontent and protests.
The growing discontent with the Government ultimately resulted in a secessionist movement led by Mizo National Front (MNF), an organisation that had evolved out of a famine relief team. While the Mizo Union's demand was limited to a separate state for the Mizos within India, the MNF aimed at establishing a sovereign Christian nation for the Mizos.
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