NSCN-IM owns killing of Ukhrul couple
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, July 26 2011:
The NSCN-IM has owned responsibility for the Ukhrul couple killing.
In a statement, the NSCN-IM said that they killed Varengam of Lungpha village, Ukhrul district for his anti-Naga activities.
However, the NSCN-IM expressed regret for killing Varengam's wife saying that she got killed as she came "too close to her husband's side when the bullets started doing the work" .
"In the process of killing Varengam the NSCN expresses extreme pain for having killed his wife who had come too close to her husband's side when the bullets started doing the work.
We express deep regret for the loss of an innocent wife.
With humility we admit that NSCN stands to be condemned for such recklessness and let this kind of incident never happen again," said the NSCN-IM statement.
Reasoning why Varengam was killed, the NSCN-IM said that he was working with Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) led by one Aleng.
"The Naga people is going through a very critical period given the fact the Indo-Naga political talks has entered into a very crucial area.
But forces opposed to any kind of honourable solution to Naga political issue is restlessly scheming all sorts of evil designs to undermine the issue in the manner that will create confusion and division among the Nagas.
Such anti-Naga elements playing into the hands of anti-Naga groups stands condemned in the eyes of all Nagas in general and NSCN in particular.
Varengam, who was shot dead by NSCN on July 24 at Lungpha village in Ukhrul district happenned to be one such element whose anti-Naga activities have crossed all limit of forbearance and tolerance.
For quite a long time he has been notoriously functioning under Aleng group, the group that has been spiting venom against NSCN under the guidance of the Meitei groups.
But a time comes when Varengam's fate has to be decided in such manner," the NSCN-IM
statement said.
Mentionably, close to midnight on Sunday, Varengam and his wife were shot dead in cold blood in Ukhrul district by unidentified gunmen.
According to the police account, at about 11:30 pm on Sunday, around seven unidentified gunmen shot dead Varengam (35), and his 33-year old wife Ngaherla in cold blood before the entire family members.