'ZTF cadres were attacked'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2020:
Hozam Thaimei, secretary, department of information and publicity, Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has said that the incident that took place on October 23 at Soubunglong (Leishok) village under Khoupum Police Station, Longmai (Noney) Distric was unfortunate.
While the entire Zeliangrong people in particular and Nagas, in general, are striving and hoping for an honourable political solution after suffering for decades, it is unfortunate that unavoidable situation occurred on October 23, 2020, at Soubunglong (Leishok) village under Khoupum Police Station, Longmai (Noney) District, wherein two armed cadres belonging to Jenchui's 'gang' were killed, said Hozam Thaimei in a statement, today.
Hozam stated that the Zeliangrong Tiger Force (ZTF) cadres who were taking rest were attacked by some armed cadres which had compelled the ZTF to retaliate in which two cadres who were later identified as Laonuam Balang of Oktan village and Gaijangam Kamei of Longmai Part 5 lost their lives.
The ZUF deeply mourned the untimely loss of two precious souls and shared the sorrow and pain with the bereaved family members, he said and added that confrontation among the brothers without any cause will be a 'foolish act' which deserves the strongest condemnation from the general public for which the ZUF has been maintaining maximum restraint respecting the feeling and sentiment of the Zeliangrong people despite 'provocations' made by Jenchui's gang since the day they were expelled from the ZUF.
It is an unconcealable fact that Jenchui's gang has been resorting to different forms of a sinister campaign to malign the image of ZUF by disguising and misusing the name of the front (ZUF), Hozam continued.
He also claimed that Jenchui's gang has been resorting to extortion, kidnapping, obstructing developmental works in Zeliangrong areas by misusing the name of Zeliangrong people for quite some time.
Saying that ZUF has been participating in political negotiation with the Govt.of India under the banner of Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) after signing an Alliance Agreement with certain understanding and conditions, he added that the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) is confident that the Govt.of India with the support and cooperation of WC-NNPGs will consider the long-cherished aspiration of Zeliangrong people as and when the Govt.of India resolve and settle the Naga political issue.