IM accused of Tamenglong killing
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 22 2012:
NSCN-K, FGN/NNC and ZUF have blamed NSCN-IM for the Haochong killing.
NSCN-IM launched the surprise attack after sneaking to Haochong village through a secret route with a sinister design to upset the bond of friendship shared by the three outfits, said the three outfits.
Meanwhile, NSCN-K, avenging for the Haochong killing, has shot dead one town commander of NSCN-IM at Tamenglong district headquarters last night.
Speaking to media persons at a location in Tamenglong district today, one spokesperson representing NSCN-K, NNC and ZUF said that the three outfits have separate camps in Haochong area.
There was not a single case of confrontation among NSCN-K, NNC and ZUF in the past and there will be no confrontation in future too, said the spokesperson.
Three cadres of NSCN-K and two civilians were killed in the Haochong attack.
One NSCN-IM cadre was also killed but the corpse was carried away by other NSCN-IM cadres.
Moreover, two ZUF cadres and one NSCN-K cadre sustained injuries.
Saying that the Haochong attack was instigated and led by some pro-NSCN-IM villagers, the spokesperson conveyed that the attack was carried out by some 20 NSCN-IM cadres who came through a secret route.
The assailants after reaching Khundong village this morning told local people that they were ZUF cadres and they had killed three NSCN-K cadres.
Such deliberate act of misinforming the villagers was aimed at creating misunderstanding among NSCN-K, ZUF and NNC.
The deceased NSCN-K cadres were Captain Ainpao, Private Ezekiel and Private Lungchuipao.
On behalf of the three outfits, the spokesperson saluted the three slain cadres and conveyed solidarity to the bereaved families.
Asking as to why the Haochong villagers held back the three corpses for more than seven hours, the spokesperson warned due actions would be initiated against the Haochong villagers who acted as informers of NSCN-IM.
The two civilian victims were killed by NSCN-IM, not by the slain NSCN-K cadres, he clarified.
Two civilians�� Meijiru (55) and NK Gakhujiba (70) were killed in Haochong attack.
"We are not retreating.
We would stand firm and fight back all aggression", stated the spokesperson.
He also conveyed gratitude to all the church authorities, student bodies and the villagers who helped in retrieving the dead and evacuating the injured victims.
In the meantime, NSCN-IM's town commander Cpl Athikho (30) was shot dead at Tamenglong district headquarters at about 8.30 last night which looked like a revenge strike in retaliation of the Haochong killing.
Athikho which was shot dead near Builders School was a native a Senapati district, and one AK-47 rifle was also found near the corpse.
The corpse has been taken to his native village.