Factional clash claims 1 in Kohima
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
Kohima, February 17 2012:
In a clash, suspected to be between two rival factions of NSCN, one activist was killed while a civilian suffered bullet injuries near the high security Nagaland civil secretariat here today, police said.
Police said the slain person was identified as an activist from NSCN(K) but the identity of the injured civilian, who was out of danger, was not yet known.
The incident occurred near Billy Graham Road junction at the entrance of the high security secretariat complex when Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was attending a function below the civil secretariat compound, the other side of the walled area.
Police suspected the incident as part of on-going turf war between NSCN (Khaplang) and Khole-Kitovi led GPRN/NSCN since they split in June last year.
Since December the rival groups were engaged in clashes in different parts of the state with three civilians having suffered injuries in Forest Colony of Kohima following a clash between the two in December last.
At least 12 cadre from both sides were killed with spate of factional clashes after a vertical split in the united GPRN/NSCN led by S S Khaplang in June last year.
Factional fights have claimed a number of lives in Nagaland and in the other neighbouring States in the North East.
The IM faction and the Khapang faction have been engaged in a bitter turf war, despite repeated appeals from all.