DIMAPUR, SEPT 28 (MExN): Armed cadres suspected to be from the NSCN (K) at around 1:35 pm today afternoon attacked the camp of the NSCN (I-M) Town Command located near the Old Forest Check Gate at Chumukedima, distanced at about 100 meteres from the entrance of the Police Training Centre there.
Some 50 to 60 rounds were reported to have been fired but no casualties were recorded. The firing is said to have continued for a period of approximately 20 minutes. Police, who had to negotiate traffic jams, arrived at the scene thirty minutes after they were informed and recovered seven empty cases of 9MM bullets, five empty cases of AK-47 rounds and a bullet head.
Three NSCN (I-M) cadres, including the Town Command, and a civilian who were at the spot fled to a nearby house when firing erupted, Police said. The suspected NSCN (K) cadres then entered the camp and destroyed household goods, besides burning mattresses and clothing belonging to cadres of the rival faction.
It was learnt that the six armed persons reportedly came in an auto rickshaw, and after attacking the rival camp, fled by the same auto. Today’s intent was not to kill but to intimidate, Police said.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner K Nzimongo Ngullie arrived at the site with a large contingent comprising of the Assam Rifles, SDO (C), EAC and police personnel to assess the situation as it had occurred in a civilian occupied area. He assured that the law and order situation was otherwise ‘OK.’
An NSCN (I-M) spokesman alleged that the attackers had emerged from the Police camp at Chumukedima. “We are taking all precautions,” he said.
The bullets fired today however found a prey in the form of a 25 kg piglet belonging to a neighbour of the NSCN (I-M) camp who resides in a thatched house.
A bullet entered the kitchen of his house and entered a plastic bucket before lodging itself into the ground. “I was slicing strips of bamboo. When the firing began, I pulled my wife to the ground and we laid face down till the firing stopped,” he said.
Children from another nearby house said they were traumatized by the sound of gunfire and could not stop crying and screaming. Among the children included a toddler who turns 1year tomorrow.
