Dimapur, March 13 (MExN): Clearing allegations of his involvement in the February 8 Kiphire massacre of seven Zanger family members, Tsulimthong ‘Deputy Director’ of ‘Public Welfare Department’, NSCN-IM has denied his hand and has issued a clarification to this effect.
Expressing pain over the events leading to the massacre, Tsulimthong stated that on the fateful day, he was resting when around 11 am there was alarm in Pungro. On enquiring he was informed that some “Limitsong terrorist” have disturbed court proceedings and surrounded the court. On his way toward Town Baptist Church in Pungro some people advised him to hide. So apprehending danger, he went into hiding. However, on getting reports that the ‘cadres’ who encircled the court were none other than Zanger villagers and “Pungro town public mob”. So, the release stated, he went to Pungro town’s Head GB’s residence and enquired about the whole alarm. They informed him that the mob intended to take the (late) Head GB and his family members to Zanger for “some extremely urgent and important clarification on some tribal issue without delay”. “To this I suggested them to advise the moody public mob to sort out through peaceful means” Tsulimthong stated.
Later, he saw the victims being herded away from the court so the NSCN-IM functionary rushed to the mob and asked the reasons fro their taking away the now demised family members. The mob told him not to interfere since the matter in question was tribal. However, apprehending danger, Tsulimthong reasoned with the mob to settle the issue through peaceful means, the release stated. “Being annoyed with me for repeated inquiry”, the mob informed him that the victims would be interrogated only after reaching Zanger, “so I did not suspect any intentions of the public”.
However, to his horror, the next morning (February 9), he was informed that the Head GB and his family members have been killed along Pungro-Zanger road. “On hearing this incident, I was shocked and speechless. After calming down, I decided to enquire to know the reasons for the killing…” he stated. He was informed to contact Yimchunger Tribal Council at Pungro. “On my repeated request they told me to study thoroughly of the details of the activities of the victims. I insisted them to give a give a photocopy of the activities but they informed me that if necessitated only, they would produce…publish for detail clarification” Tsulimthong stated. However, in spite of repeated allegations and counter-allegations being published, the YTC and the public is yet to come out with the details. “I was simply informed that the incident was itself accountable to the deceased on account of their past activities in the village and the area” he stated and maintained to the general public that he had no involvement in any way in the massacre.
