NSCN (IM)-ZUF gun battle: Both tell their side of the story
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN/The Makam Post
Dimapur, May 31 2012:
Giving its version over the Wednesday shoot out between it and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), the NSCN-IM said today that one of the slain cadres hailed from the NSCN-Khaplang group.
The NSCN-IM also said the 10 Assam Rifles asked the cadres of the outfit to move out of the area shortly before the shoot out occurred.
"For the sake of feeding the correct information base on factual truth it becomes a matter of issuing this rejoinder.
Regrettably what was published yesterday on NSCN-ZUF clash in Tamenglong is incomplete and with many missing links.
"The fighting took place at a place between Ejailung and Otang village (Puichi) in Nungba area of Tamenglong district after the ZUF ambushed the NSCN forces.
It may be pointed out that shortly before the ambush took place the 10 AR under the command of CO Ajay Sharma asked the NSCN to move out from the area.
The NSCN were however not caught by surprise as they were fully on alert for any such eventuality and they retaliated ferociously," alleged the NSCN-IM today.
The fighting that started at 6:10 am lasted till 2pm.At the end two ZUF boys were killed on the spot and three others injured, one of them seriously.Of the two dead Tilunthai Panmei ,18 years of Taosang village was found to be from NSCN-K and the other Philimon Remai (19) of Khoupum village from ZUF, the NSCN-IM claimed today.
One the other hand, The Makam Post day today met ZUF/ZTF cadres at a jungle located in between Oktan (Puchi) Ijeirong and also interviewed the panic stricken Zeliangrong civilians of the affected area.
During the meeting, A Remroi, Joint Secretary, ZUF said, "two ZTF cadres namely Diluanthai Panmei (17) S/o Dimthuilung of Taosang village and Philemon Riamei (24) S/o Kangdai of Taosemjaeng-Nungadang in Khoupum Valley of Tamenglong District laid down their lives for the sake of peace and security to the people especially Zeliangrong, Inpui, Chiru, Kom, Kharam kindred tribes from the hindrance of non-Zeliangrong militants camping in the area.
The area has been captured and the non-Zeliangrong militants fled after a long gunfight from 6:30 AM to 10 AM yesterday" .
"'Another person was also sustained injured from among the triumphant attackers", Remroi said, while praying for the departed souls to rest in peace.
ZUF also claimed that the some of the non-Zeliangrong militants also injured in the gun-fight and expressed appreciation of frontal organizations/women activists, ZSULA & ZSUM, village authorities for their concern and dispatching the 'martyrs' who laid down
their lives.