Factional gun booms in Dimapur : 2 'K' cadres hut in clash with Kitovi group
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, September 06 2012:
There was a factional gun battle between NSCN factions in Dimapur today amid bandh called by North East Students Organisation (NESO) .
Two cadres of NSCN-Khaplang were injured in the clash with another NSCN faction led by Khole and Kitovi at a place called Thahekhu in Dimapur at around 7 am today.
The gun-battle lasted till 9 am.
According to an intelligence source, two sergeant majors of the NSCN-K identified as Mario Anal and James Kikon sustained bullet wounds in the clash.
The official source informed Newmai News Network said grenades and sophisticated weapons were used in the clash by both the warring groups.
It all began when NSCN-Khole/Kitovi group attacked the cadres of Khaplang faction at a house in Thahekhu, around 5 kilometres south of Dimapur main market.
According to the source, one Khethovi, who was a town command of NSCN-Khole/Kitovi group in Dimapur had defected to Khaplang camp few weeks ago.
In the last two days, Khethovi along with 30 cadres were camping in a house at Thahekhu village.
On learning this, the rival group i.e, Khole/Kitovi faction of the NSCN attacked on the house where NSCN-K cadres were camping with heavy weapons including explosives.
The Khaplang group retaliated the ambush from the rival faction.
In the ensuing gun battle, the two sergeant majors of the Khaplang group were hurt.
According to the intelligence source, as the clash continued for nearly 2 hours, civil organizations, local clubs and church bodies were forced to intervene.
While the civil organisations were trying their best to stop the clash, the Assam Rifles personnel also rushed in.
At last the warring NSCN factions stopped the gun-fight.The Assam Rifles personnel tried to arrest the cadres of both the NSCN groups but the civil organisations prevented them from doing so.
Vehicles were arranged by these civil organisations and took the NSCN-K cadres to a safer locality while the injured persons were admitted in a hospital.
It is speculated that the NSCN cadres have been taken to their camp at Zunheboto.
Interestingly, one September 3, the NSCN-K as a gesture of "good faith" and in the "larger interests of the people" released self-style Sgt.
Maj.
Botai Wangnaoham s/o late Tampha Wangnaoham of Pumao village who hails from NSCN-Khole/Kitovi group unharmed in presence of local leaders and his family members.
According to the NSCN-K, "Sgt.
Maj." Botai was involved in so many cases of extortion from the poor and rich alike and carried out anti-social activities in Longding area for quite some time which led to his arrest by the NSCN-K cadres few days back.
The NSCN-K said under the direction of senior "kilonser" (minister) P.Tikhat the rival cadre was released who was in NSCN-K's custody for the last few days.
The release of the rival cadre was done so as to instil trust and also to maintain peace and tranquility in the area "despite knowing fully that he was involved in many cases of extortion from the public and business establishments" .
The NSCN-K had then said it wanted to let the Naga people in general and the "Khehoi campers" (headquarters of NSCN-Khole/Kitovi group) in particular to know that the NSCN-K under the leadership of S.S.Khaplang is capable of facing any eventuality but in order to maintain public peace and tranquility keeping in mind the good faith as well the people's yearning for peace among the Naga brethren, released the apprehended cadre in the presence of Longding town local leaders, parents and others.
"The seeds of good example set by the mature leader should be reciprocated positively in the future as per the wishes of God as good leaders are God chosen leaders who are supposed to do good to each other while leading the people towards achieving their God chosen goals fearlessly," the NSCN-K had stated.
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