K. Filip Sumi
Dimapur | December 16
Altogether six persons belonging to NSCN (K) and GPRN/NSCN were killed during separate incidents in Nitoi village and Meluri town on Sunday.
The first incident took place early morning around 5:30 at Nitoi village under Kiphire district when armed cadres of both the factions fired at each other killing two persons from the NSCN (K). NSCN (K) MIP source identified the victims as one ‘Lieutenant’ Among of Anatonger village from Tikhir community and one ‘2nd Lieutenant’ Tholo Pochury of Phongkiri village. The MIP source said one ‘Lieutenant’ Tsarose Sangtam of Singrep village from its fold received minor injuries on the hand.
The Morung Express Correspondent in Kiphire adds that the GPRN/NSCN attacked the NSCN (K) cadres who were camped at Nitoi village to attend the first Open Volley Ball Championship to be held at Nitoi village starting from tomorrow organised by Friends Forever Club.
According to sources, around 10 to15 GPRN/NSCN attacked the NSCN (K) who numbered around 30 to 40 cadres camped at the village. The exchange of gun fight which started at around 5.45 am and lasted till 6.30 am was defused by the district administration, paramilitary and public.
The first volleyball open championship where seven teams were registered from the district were asked to come back because the administration directed the organizers to cancel the tournament due to the tense situation caused by the factional fight.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (K) condemned the incident stating that its cadres were attacked unawares while resting in the village. “We can retaliate anytime but we don’t want to hurt the sentiments of the public,” the source added.
When contacted, GPRN/NSCN military source said it learnt that the NSCN (K) cadres were prepared to attack GPRN/NSCN’s Sangphure designated camp some 18-20 kms from Nitoi village. GPRN/NSCN said that they recovered one M21 semi rifle belonging to NSCN (K) from the spot. It said that the firing was stopped with the intervention of the public who escorted the NSCN (K) cadres towards Sitimi village.
In another incident that took place on Sunday afternoon in Meluri, four GPRN/NSCN activists were apprehended and shot dead by NSCN (K). GPRN/NSCN sources said that two of its civil workers were first picked up by NSCN (K) and after extracting more information about others from the duo shot them dead in “cold blooded manner.” The civilian workers were in the rank of “Leacy” and “Razu Piyu.” It may be mentioned that in Naga terminology, “Leacy” is referred to a Member of Regional Assembly while “Razu Piyu” is referred to as a Sub-Divisional Officer.
After getting information about others from the first two, the NSCN (K) cadres again apprehended two military workers in Meluri and shot them dead, the GPRN/NSCN source said. The victims were said to be one ‘Major’ Isori Tikhir and his body guard.
