Imphal, August 13 2009: Apart from high tension gripping southern part of Ukhrul district, villagers of Shingkap are reported to be facing hardships after troops of the Assam Rifles encircled the village as a follow-up action in the aftermath of the shoot-out with cadres of the NSCN (IM) at nearby Sakhok village.

According to information received here, a joint delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and Tangkhul Shinao Long (TSL) were prevented from venturing into Shakok village with Commanding Officer of the 23 Assam Rifles citing security reason for disallowing entry.

The representatives of these organisations had to return from Phalong village, the nearest village to Shakok where a fierce encounter ensued between troops of the para-military force and NSCN (IM) cadres yesterday.

Sakhok village is situated about 12 kilometres south of Phungyar sub-divisional headquarters.

having initially encircled Shakhok village after the skirmishes broke out yesterday, the AR troops are informed to have expanded their operation to the adjacent Shingkap village thereby prohibiting movement of the villagers.

As a consequence of the AR action, tension is running high in the area, said an informed source.

The source contended that the shoot-out ensued after a convoy of AR personnel, moving in vehicles, came across about 28 well-armed cadres of the rebel group.

As firing started, the IM cadres moving on foot, dispersed in several direction with eight of them feared killed as their whereabouts could not be confirmed till date.

However, as entry to the encounter site is not allowed, number of casualty, if any, on the side of the rebel group could not be authenticated even though speculations are rife that either the missing cadres got killed on the spot or had been taken as captives.

Nevertheless, inspite of absence of precise report on the casualty figure, reports received here suggest that one Sergeant Major of the outfit has been slain in the conflict.

The deceased is said to be one Selmol Hungyo (26) s/o Arai hungyo of Chahang Khullen.

A spokesman of the NSCN (IM) said that he was a Chaplain of the GPRN.

It has been conveyed that the UNC, TNL and TSL representatives assembled at the district headquarters and headed for the troubled village (Shakok) with a ranked office of the Ukhrul-based 17 AR escorting the team.

As Shangsak, the team was joined by SDPO, Ukhrul.

A few kilometres from Phungyar, the sojourn ceased on the suggestion by the CO of 23 AR that entry to Shakhok cannot be allowed on security reason.

When the representatives asked the AR officer regarding the ground situation and condition of the villagers, the CO assured that the villagers were safe.

On assertion by the representatives that the CO would be held responsible in case there is any report of human rights violation, the officer pledged that he would take all possible measures to ensure civilian population are not harmed or harassed as a consequence of the fire-fight.

UNC president Samson Remei told The Sangai Express that with the AR personnel not allowing movement beyond the encircled area, the villagers cannot attend to their fields even though farming season is at the peak.

A meeting of public leaders with the joint team of UNC, TNL and TSL is sad to be underway at the district headquarters when this report was filed.