Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 10
A news report suggesting that GPRN/NSCN president Gen (Retd) Khole Konyak may have joined the NSCN (IM), which appeared in a Nagaland based newspaper, machinated a flurry of reactions from organizations on Thursday.
The newspaper report, while citing NSCN (IM) sources, claimed that Gen Khole has been meeting NSCN (IM) leaders in New Delhi for the last three days and has joined the group. It however said there is no official confirmation to authenticate the claim.
The GPRN/NSCN, meanwhile has denied the report. “We completely deny that our president has joined NSCN (IM). He is currently in Delhi solely for his medical treatment and not for any other purpose. There are many rumours doing the rounds so we do not wish to believe in such reports,” highly placed sources within the GPRN/NSCN set up said. “However, since some local dailies carried reports that he (Khole) must have switched sides, it is expected that he clear his situation and position,” the official added.
A senior functionary of the NSCN (IM) who is camping in New Delhi, when contacted said there was “nothing official about the report” and also termed it to be a rumour or mere speculation.
“Yes, we have heard that he (Gen Khole) is here for treatment. Otherwise there is nothing official about him joining our group,” the NSCN (IM) member maintained while adding that they were also trying to identify the origin of the report since it reportedly came from a member of their group.
Sources said an ailing Gen Khole was airlifted by a chopper from Tobu village in Mon district to Guwahati and there on a flight to Delhi. He was reported to have been admitted to a hospital.
The Konyak Union (KU) is also learnt to have had a meeting at Hotel Saramati on Thursday. A member of KU said they were not aware of such a development. “We were only told that he (Gen Khole) was sick and going to Delhi for treatment,” the KU member stated.
