Dimapur, April 23: A fierce gun-battle ensued yesterday at Tenyiephe area in Dimapur during which cadres from both the NSCN-IM and GPRN/NSCN-Unification have been killed in continued factional clashes between the two armed groups.

However, the exact number of casualties are yet to be ascertained till the time of filing this story as there have been contradictory claims from both the factions.

The NSCN-IM claimed that four cadres of the rival GPRN/NSCN-Unification were killed in the clash while the rival faction too claimed of inflicting the same number of casualties on the NSCN-IM.

If the claims of both factions are to be relied on then, altogether eight cadres from both the factions have been killed.

But so far only three bodies were recovered at the site of the clash�two cadres of GPRN/NSCN-Unification and one NSCN-IM cadre while one NSCN-IM cadre was injured.

According to reports, the clash erupted at Tenyiephe, 5th Mile, near St Joseph's School in Dimapur at around 11:30 am and continued till 2:30 pm.

"Capt" Atovi and his colleague Hekeshi of the GPRN/NSCN-Unification and another cadre from the NSCN-IM identified as "Lance Cpl" Shimray were killed on the spot while NSCN-IM "Cpl" M Ayo was brought to the office of the outfit's Ceasefire Monitoring Cell in Dimapur.

Another from the GPRN/NSCN-Unification and said to be a bodyguard of "Capt" Atovi was missing.

The body of Hekeshi was recovered from outside the farmhouse of former MLA TN Ngullie.

According to reports, a barrage of shots was fired by the two sides during the clash.

Twelve grenades were also exploded.

Two more were recovered by police but are yet to be defused.

Students at St Joseph's School were evacuated by the school authority when the clash broke out.

The NSCN-IM claimed that the incident occurred when the rival cadres attacked its Chumukedima post which was retaliated.

One AK-47 rifle was taken from the Unification group by the NSCN-IM cadres in the clash, it claimed further.

A report said that two cadres of the NSCN-IM have been abducted by the rival GPRN/NSCN-Unification from a car in Dimapur just after the incident last afternoon.

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