Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 03 2009:
Army gunned down a member of Village Defence Party (VDP) in a reported encounter in Assam's violence hit North Cachar Hills district on Friday.VDP is said to be a team of villagers who guard their respective villages as volunteers in the wake of violence in the district.
Sources said,the encounter took place when Army team attacked the VDP team at Baureneu village under Maibang police station around 6 in the morning.
One VDF was killed,one injured while one was reportedly 'picked up' by the army troops during the course of the incident,the sources said and added that around 7 other VDP members were reported missing.
The deceased Paukaneung Newmei 26 of Baureneu village, the injured person was Eliangbe 27 and the arrested person was Poucheleung Newmei 26,both residents of Hejaichak village.
Deputy Commissioner N C Hills Jagatnath confirming the incident when contacted over telephone, however claimed that the deceased belonged to NSCN.
However he could not confirm the particular NSCN group, saying, "We're yet to get the details of it".
The officer on the hand said the situation in the district "going back to normalcy".
Even those displaced villagers who were presently taking shelter in Manipur's Tamenglong district could return back home now if they're willing to do so, he added.
In the meanwhile, the NSCN-IM Zeliangrong Region GPRN strongly denied involving in today's firing.
The spokesman over the telephone said that the India Army is allegedly telecasting on some TV channel that they had gun battle between their force and NSCN: IM.
Further, the spokesman also said that no "IM" cadre is deployed at that village and their statement are basely and erroneous.
The Village Defence Party alleged that both the Indian Army and the DHD (D) ceasefire group were jointly operating and burned many of the Zeme Naga villages.
"There are many instances when the Indian Army came to Zeme Naga village and just after they left the village, the DHD (J) started attacking the village", the source added.
Presently over 200 villagers mostly women and children were taking shelter in and around Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong.