Hundreds flee Azuram and Chramram villages, relief camp opened at Tml hqs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 08:
Even as the top leadership of the NSCN(IM), Isak Chisi Swu and Th Muivah are now in India and planning to spend Christmas in Nagaland, heavy fighting has broken out between a joint force of the NSCN (K), MPA and a Kuki group and the NSCN (IM) at Azuram and Chramram villages in Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district.
Fearing the worst, hundreds of villagers of the two villages have fled their homesteads and are now taking shelter at Tamenglong dist Hqs, where the DC has arranged their fooding and lodging.
Blankets have been provided by the 35 Assam Rifles.
According to reports received here, a combined force of the MPA, NSCN (K) and the Kuki group started descending on Azuram village, a few days back, which is closely situated to Chramram village, which is a strong hold of the NSCN(IM).
Ever since MPA and the NSCN (K) and Kuki cadres started descending on Azuram village, which is situated a mountain range away from Tousem, sporadic gun fights have been on for the last four days said sources.
The combined militants came in from Jiribam side, said the source adding that fierce fighting between the rival militant groups started yesterday.
As the fighting grew in intensity, hundreds of villagers from Azuram and Chramram fled their homestead yesterday and after spending the night at Barak reached Tamenglong district headquarters today morning.
About 8,00 villagers have fled their homestead and till today about one hundred villagers have arrived at the district headquarters, said an official source from Tamenglong.
The bulk of the villagers are from Azuram village which has about 48 homesteads.
At the moment a relief camp has been opened at the compound of a resident of Tamenglong and the DC, T Pamei has provided ten bags of rice while the Assam Rifles have chipped in with the necessary blankets for the villagers.
Some of the villagers have also taken shelter with relatives at the district headquarters.
Villagers who are taking refuge at Tamenglong said that at the last count they saw at least 38 armed persons with the MPA tag on their battle fatigues.
The heavy reports of gun fire was heard at Tamenglong from about 2.30 am today, said sources and indicated the use of heavy artilleries like 2 inch mortars, grenade launchers and bombs.
The sound of gun fire could be heard late into the evening, said sources from Tamenglong.
Official sources said that two columns of 35 Assam Rifles have been rushed to the site of the fighting.
The AR men are also accompanied by two police officers of Tamenglong police.
Till the time of filing this report, news of any casualty on either side cannot be ascertained.
The NSCN (IM) has been imposing night curfew at Tamenglong district for the last few days.