Shootout between Indian troops & NSCN (K): conflicting reports emerge

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 27

A gun battle between Indian security personnel and NSCN (K) cadres near the Indo-Myanmar border in the early hours of September 27 gave rise to conflicting reports, with both sides issuing differing claims regarding the shootout.  

A statement from the PRO, Defense said that a column of the Indian Army “while operating along the Indo-Myanmar border was fired upon by unidentified insurgents.” “Own troops reacted swiftly and brought down heavy retaliatory fire on the insurgents. Thereafter the insurgents broke contact and fled the spot,” it added.  

The PRO further stated that the Indian troops did not cross the Indo-Myanmar border. It claimed that “no trans-border operations have been carried out” and that there was no casualty on the side of the Indian security forces.  

Earlier, the Army’s Easter Command had on its official Twitter feed specified that the gunfight was with NSCN (K) cadres and that “heavy casualties reportedly inflicted on NSCN (K).”  

The NSCN (K) however had a different version of the encounter. A statement from Col Isak Sumi of the NSCN (K) MIP claimed that 3 Indian soldiers were killed near Langkhu Village in Myanmar and that several more were suspected injured. The gunfight, as per the statement, lasted for six to seven hours.  

The NSCN (K) said that the shootout occurred at around 3:00am Wednesday morning when “Naga Army belonging to elite unit on combat operation along the international border detected a hesitant column of Indian Army coming from Khonsa Arunachal Pradesh side near Langkhu village inside Myanmar.”  

Meanwhile, independent sources informed that the gunfight occurred in a place about 15-20 kms from Khonsa border village under Pangchao Circle in Triap District of Arunachal Pradesh. It may be noted that the 16th Assam Rifles is posted in Khonsa border village.  

The sources, quoting inputs from Pangchao police, reported that Indian para commandos conducted a covert strike in an NSCN (K) camp located about 2.5 kms from a village called Langkho in Myanmar, about 5kms from the Arunachal-Myanmar border. The sources further stated that Pangchao police were not aware of any casualties till the filing of this report.  

However, sources from Longwa border village in Mon informed that there were two casualties on the side of the Indian security forces. This report however could not be independently verified.