Dimapur, October 25 (MExN): After a considerable spell of apparent calm, the two warring factions of the NSCN clashed in various areas across Dimapur district in the last 24 hours, leaving a total of six cadres dead. One of these factional incidents also includes a case of “friendly fire” when NSCN-IM cadres fired, and killed, one of their own mistaking him to be from the NSCN-K.
According to various sources including the police, the casualties on both sides totaled six and a suspected ‘many more’ injured over the day. Both the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K lost three each of their cadres in shootouts that broke out in Ghaspani, Nagarjan and Borlengri last night and today.
Last night, two NSCN-K cadres were killed in Ghaspani near the Veterinary Farm. Identities of the two killed cadres could not be made available at the time of filing this report. Details regarding the Ghaspani shootout are grainy. The police are still ‘waiting for a clear picture’ on the shootout. The cadres are suspected to have been ambushed by NSCN-IM cadres.
Later, today at around 10:30 am two NSCN-IM cadres were killed in an area between Nagarjan and National Highway-39. This is believed to be in retaliation of the Ghaspani shootout where two NSCN-K cadres were killed. The two NSCN-IM cadres are said to have been proceeding towards 3 Mile in an auto-rickshaw when they were ambushed along the way by an unspecified number of gunmen. Police strongly suspect the gunmen to be from the NSCN-K. The NSCN-IM cadres killed have been identified as “2nd lieutenant” Tekanungsang Longchar and “sergeant” Ato Sema. Two empty bullet shells of M20 and 9MM were recovered from the spot.
Again, an hour or so later today an NSCN-IM cadre was shot dead while another sustained serious injuries at Borlengri. The incident happened around 11 am, it was informed. However, this time it was not factional, sources said but cadres from the same faction opening fire at each other. The Borlengri shooting was a case of mistaken identity where cadres from the NSCN-IM mistook some of their own for the rivals, sources said. The deceased was identified as one “lieutenant” Shikavi.
In a separate shootout his evening at around 4:15-4:30 pm an NSCN-K cadre was shot dead at Nagarjan-C (Mao Colony) by suspected NSCN-IM cadres. The deceased has been identified as one Kanito. Details on this incident could not be had. The Dimapur police are also ‘waiting’ for ‘clearer picture’ on the incidents. The Dimapur Superintendent of Police could not be contacted.
