Dimapur, May 28 (MExN): Three cadres belonging to the FGN (Non-Accordist) faction and one NSCN (IM) cadre were killed and another NSCN (IM) cadre was injured in a major armed encounter at Khutsokuno village, 20 kms away from Phek town in the wee hours of May 28.
According to Phek district police officers, the firing started when an unascertained number of NSCN (IM) cadres attacked a group of 12-13 FGN (Non accordist) cadres who were inside a house in the village at around 4:30 am. In the ensuing gun-battle which lasted for about half-an-hour three FGN cadres identified as ‘Lt’ Mugulhu of Khutsokuno village, ‘SS Pvt’ Yieveta of Khuza village, ‘SS Pvt’ Khrusavoyi of Chepoketa village and one NSCN (IM) cadre, ‘SS Sgt’ Kindingan Zeliang of Topun village were killed. Another unidentified NSCN (IM) cadre was injured and admitted to Civil Hospital, Phek. There were no civilian casualties, police said. No arms or ammunitions were recovered, they added.
The district administration rushed police forces to the village to take stock of the situation. Police sources said that the situation is under control, with both the Naga underground factions vacating the village and moving out into the jungle.
Concerned over heightened factional clashes among the Naga underground faction the in the Naga society, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee is planning to submit a representation to State Governor, K Shankaranarayan with regard to the law and order situation in the state. NPCC’s president Hokheto Sumi, in a telephonic conversation said that the increasing number of factional clashes is proving to be very dangerous to the innocent public in the state. He lamented that the State government is just watching the whole scene and simply appealing to the underground factions to stop factional fights without intervening or dispersing the warring underground cadres. Hokheto pointed out that even the State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, during the inauguration of the Peren district headquarters recently, admitted that the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated.
“When the Chief Minister is saying that the situation has deteriorated, what can we say” said Hokheto.
He said that the Opposition is helpless since they do not hold the government. However, Hokheto said that if the situation remains the same then the NPCC would be left with no alternative but to meet the State Governor and submit a representation, once the latter returns to the State from his official trip.
Expressing pessimism over the recent initiatives of the civil societies especially the Naga Hoho towards peace and reconciliation, Hokheto lamented that it is too late for peace and reconciliation, and added that the underground factions are not going to do anything despite the appeals by civil society for peace and unity. However, he said that such factional fights among the Naga people will bring ‘nothing good’ for the people and will not benefit anybody.
.jpg)
