DIMAPUR, MAY 8: One NSCN (I-M) activist was killed and another from the same cadre, injured during a clash in at Xelhoje village, while one NSCN Unification activist was also injured in a separate incident at Diphupar ‘B’ under Dimapur district, on Thursday.
In the first incident, villagers of Xelhoje said the clash took place after a group of armed NSCN (I-M) activists entered the village early Thursday at around 4.30 a.m. in search of rival activists. After locating the rivals, the NSCN (I-M) group attacked the five NSCN unification activists taking shelter inside the panchayat hall.The firing went on for sometime and after the NSCN Unification activists, trapped inside the hall, received reinforcement, the group repulsed the attack and chased the NSCN (I-M) activists from the village to the nearby jungle adjoining Seithekiema village.
Meanwhile, talking to this Reporter, Deputy kilonser (defence) and convenor of the operation, GPRN/NSCN Unification, Akato Chophi who was on the spot said the NSCN Unification had seized one US carbine from the slain NSCN (I-M) activist. Police later identified the slain NSCN (I-M) activist as one Ayin Tangkhul while the injured also from the same cadre, was identified as Yarin Tangkhul.
In another factional clash at Diphupar ‘B’, one NSCN Unification activist identified as ‘Sgt Maj’ Hokivi was injured after the rival NSCN (I-M) attacked a building occupied by five NSCN Unification activists.
According to villagers, the exchange of fire started at around 10-10.30 a.m. and lasted for more than two hours. It was reported that armed NSCN (I-M) activists, barricaded the house where the NSCN Unification activist were holed up and began firing. During the shoot out, a kitchen attached with the building caught fire and was completely gutted.
In a similar scenario with the earlier at Xelhoje village, reinforcement from the NSCN Unification arrived and the counter attack began.
The trapped NSCN Unification activists were rescued only after the villagers led by DMC chairperson Khekaho Assumi, his DMC colleagues- Lipok Pongen, N.K. Gonmei, Simon and Yanger Toshi- and GBs intervened. The public then confronted both factions and forced them to vacate the area.
The DMC members and GBs had earlier, rescued school students of St John School, opposite the site of the clash, when they were trapped inside their classrooms during the heavy exchange of fire. The DMC members, GBs and villagers took care of the injured NSCN Unification activist who was rushed to hospital for treatment of injury sustained on the mouth. An unexploded high intensity grenade and the shell of a 40 mm Lethode were recovered from the site.
Meanwhile, according to a late night report, both rival NSCN factions were concentrated in heavy numbers at Chekiye village spreading a wave of panic among the inhabitants about an impending clash.
(NPN)