Itanagar, October 10 (MExN): The NSCN (K) on Tuesday attacked an Indian Army base in Arunachal Pradesh’s Niausa area. The NSCN (K) in a statement claimed that at least 40 Indian soldiers were killed in the attack. The army has however refuted these reports. A press state from Col Isak Sumi of the NSCN (K)’s MIP claimed that “Naga Army, NSCN/GPRN comprising around 70 fighters selected from various mobile units, demolition unit and GHQ,N/A led by combat experienced senior officers launched an all out offensive on Indian Army camp located at Nyausau in Longdin, Arunachal Pradesh on 10,October 1AM lasting to 8-9 AM.” The statement said that “the heavy offensive lasted for nearly 8-9 hours and the camp was nearly overrun had it not been for the intervention of the civilians.” “At the least 40 soldiers have been killed and injured but their respective PRO’S gave varying accounts claiming that attack did not occur but only few ineffective firing and lathodes launched and quite absurdly asserted that no damage was done to the camp’s properties,” the NSCN (K) added. As per an IANS report, Kohima-based Army spokesman Chiranjeet Konwer however contradicted this and said there was no casualty or damage to the Company Operating Base of the Longding battalion in the attack. Konwer said the firing took place at around 1:15 am. “They fired five to 10 rounds of ineffective small arms along with a Lathode grenade. The rebels fled after alert sentries effectively retaliated,” he was quoted as saying in the IANS report. Konwer said that the army was forced to control its firing keeping in mind the safety of the villagers in the vicinity. He said a search operation to nab the fleeing rebels was ongoing. Konwer added that the NSCN (K) statement was only to create “sensationalism” and were “baseless and false”. With IANS inputs
