Kohima, September 29: An Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) patrol commander was shot at by unknown armed miscreants while on patrolling duty at around 10:50 pm last night at Police headquarters junction, PR Hill in Kohima.

Sources today revealed that unidentified gunmen came in a Bolero jeep and fired upon the 10 IRB D-Coy patrolling party near the PHQ junction, injuring the patrol commander, Havildar Zhapulie Koza on his left knee joint.

He was rushed to Bethel Hospital and is presently out of danger after minor surgery.

Sources revealed that the gunmen first fired some shots in Forest Colony area and then came to the PHQ police point where they fired upon the patrolling party while the IRB personnel also fired some rounds in retaliation.

However, as there was no power supply in the area that time, the police could not even trace the vehicle number.

Meanwhile, both the factions of NSCN have blamed each other for the action.

Supervisor of Angami Region and deputy kilonser of NSCN-IM, KK Angami said that the area is being dominated by the rival faction and it must be their handiwork.

NSCN-K Military spokesperson, Isak Sumi said "it was not our boys but they were the NSCN-IM cadres".

He also condemned such kind of attack on the police and firing in public places.

He also alleged that armed rival cadres had created fear psychosis in Forest colony area by firing several rounds in the air before they fired upon the IRB patrol party at PHQ junction.

"This is merely a ploy of the IM cadres to create a situation to compel the security forces to raid the area and flush out our cadres.

Despite whatever enmity we have towards each other, we should have concern for civilians and restrain ourselves from firing in public places," the NSCN-K leader said.