Kohima, April 07: Factional fight among Naga underground groups has claimed three lives in Nagaland's Phek district, which has become the happy hunting ground for three major outfits of the State out to establish their supremacy.

Official reports received here from the district said the three died yesterday in gunbattles, which sparked off tension in the areas as underground actvists hunted down each other.

The reports said two cadres one of NSCN(I-M) and another of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) were killed in an exchange of fire at Porba village under Chizami rural development block of the district.

In another incident, one NSCN(K) cadre was killed at Wazeho in a clash with rival NSCN(I-M).

The outfits appear to have turned a deaf ear to repeated appeals by tribal NGOs, political parties and Churches to exercise restraint and adhere to ceasefire ground rules.

Meanwhile, FGN in a statement has accused NSCN(I-M) of launching an attack on its member at Porba village and said killings among the Nagas would not bring any good.

FGN assistant secretary Thinu Khamp held NSCN(I-M) general secretary Th Muivah responsible for the on-going fratricidal killings on Naga soil for the past two decades.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Phek district, ruling Nagaland People's Front (NPF) legislator, K Therie blamed the State Government for breach of peace as the administration failed to enforce cease-fire ground rules in the district.

Therie, who hails from the district and is a former Minister, asserted that it was the duty of the Government to enforce rule of law and tackle all underground factions diplomatically to defuse tension in the district due to presence of activists of all underground groups.

NSCN(I-M) have meanwhile held a series of 'consultative meetings' of its senior functionaries in various parts of the state to explain to the people the on-going peace talks with the Centre and to elicit their views and opinions on the Naga political issue.

Accompanied by senior leaders, NSCN(I-M) emissary to collective leadership, V S Atem yesterday held a meeting at Mokokchung which was attended by representatives of tribal councils, village chiefs, students organisations, reports said.

Similar meetings were held last week at Tuensang and Zudza near Kohima and were participated by a large number of villagers.

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