IM over runs U camp, seven U cadres killed
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, June 26: In a major development with regard to the ongoing factional clashes in Nagaland, the main camp of the NSCN-Unification Vihokhu, has been over-run by the rival NSCN-IM on Thursday morning.

All the leaders of the NSCN-Unification camping at Vihokhu have fled, while seven dead bodies of the U group were found at the camp site today.

All the huts of the NSCN-Unification camp at Vihokhu village, some 25 kilometres from Dimapur have been razed to ashes while over 45 vehicles belonging to the occupants of the camp were also been burnt down completely.

However, the NSCN-IM claimed that 60 vehicles have been burnt down.

The remains of the NSCN (U) camp which was over run by the rival NSCN (IM) group

Seven dead bodies of the NSCN-Unification cadres were recovered this morning at the site of the clash at Vihokhu camp on Thursday. A large number of NSCN-IM cadres attacked the NSCN-Unification camp at Vihokhu from three directions including from the main entrance.

Of the 60 vehicles of the NSCN-Unification burnt, 15 of them were Maruti Gypsy vehicles, 14 of them were Bolero vehicles and the rest were that of small cars and jeeps.

Reports said that kilonsers and high ranking cadres of the NSCN-Unification have already fled the camp at Vihokhu but it is yet to ascertain the exact destinations where these leaders have headed for.

Speculations have been doing the round that the leaders of NSCN-Unification have fled towards Bokajan on the Nagaland-Assam border.

Since the night of June 24, the cadres of the NSCN-IM had begun to launch the attack on the NSCN-Unification near Vihokhu camp.

On Wednesday things became volatile as the clashes between the two rival NSCN factions erupted to a war like situation.

By 9 am on Thursday, the NSCN-IM managed to over-run the NSCN-Unification camp at Vihokhu burning down all the properties both movable and inmovable belonging to the NSCN-Unification.

In a separate incident of violence an NSCN-IM "sgt major" identified as Venda Shan was shot dead by rival NSCN-Unification cadres at Tsetungse village near Dimapur on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, with a sigh of relief, the NSCN-IM said that the valor of the "Naga Army" was again proved against the "reactionaries forces of Azheto-Mulatonou-Kitovi group" in the battle to evict and destroy the "illegal Vihokhu camp".

The NSCN-IM statement tonight said that a seeming show of "resistance could not last long and bunker after bunker were overrun till the Naga army penetrate right in the centre of the camp forcing the demoralized reactionary forces to flee in the panic.

The few who were left to defend could not face the on slaughter and seven of them were killed in the camp and adjoining areas.

Many more were injured as confirmed by the villagers.

Seven arms were captured." As part of the operation to dismantle any structure of the camp, around 60 vehicles were burnt down.

Every standing houses or camps were destroyed.

The Naga Army suffered four minor injuries, claimed the NSCN-IM.

"The illegal camp in the name of an illegal organization under the name style as NSCN/GPRN was ultimately driven to meet its doom when the government of India went back on its words to act, forcing the Naga Army to handle the matter in the manner it deem fit," stated the outfit while adding, "Any forces how high it claimed to be but devoid of national principle, cannot go on playing on the national sentiment.

And the people cannot be taken for a ride on such sensitive issue by resorting to rhetoric war".