ZUF's claim on shootout
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 23 2015:
The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has claimed to have killed two NSCN-IM cadres and wounded two others in a confrontation on March 19 at Guiteng in Khoupum valley.
In a statement, L Longmei, information and publicity secretary of ZUF said that the gunfight at Guiteng on March 19 occurred due to the NSCN-IM cadres' intrusion into ZUF operational area.
It also accused the NSCN-IM cadres of violating human rights and disturbing the peaceful environment which is against the aspirations of the Nagas and in contravention of international human rights norms.
Quoting its witnesses, the ZUF also accused the NSCN-IM of dictating and harassing the innocent villagers by ordering them to bring their domestic livestock, rice and other essential commodities without payment.
The villagers were also asked to carry their items as porters at gunpoint to different places of their destinations, the ZUF statement alleged.
The villagers were also asked by the IM cadres to act as watchmen at different locations, it further alleged.
To get rid of such atrocities, the ZUF carried out an operation against them, it said, while adding that two of the IM cadres were killed and inflicted injury to two others.
One AK-47 rifle with large quantities of ammunition and two common bags were recovered after the incident, ZUF claimed.
However, much to the surprise of everyone, the two dead bodies are not traced still even as the two wounded cadres are reportedly handed over to the security forces, it added.
Prior to this shoot-out, there were fierce confrontations between the two rival outfits at various places in Zeliangrong areas and particularly in Khoupum Satudai areas, it added.
The ZUF further warned cadres of the NSCN-IM belonging to the Zeliangrong communities to learn a lesson that they were sent to die in the hands of fellow brethren merely to fulfill the interest of some vested officers of their organisation whose motive is to capture more power.