Kohima, September 09: Five persons, including the NSCN-IM chaplain and his wife and three NSCN (IM) cadres were shot dead at point-blank range last night at a place between Jotsoma and Khonoma, some 5 kms from Kohima town.

According to sources, police recovered the bodies of five persons including the chaplain of the NSCN (IM) and his wife about 200 feet below the Lakie road in between Jotsoma and Khonoma at around 12.30 pm today.

The five have been identified as �Major� PK Stone, Chaplain of General Headquarters NSCN-IM, his wife, Mairela of Hongpong village, �L/Cpl� Nganshamkhui of Theva Maram village, �Pvt� Easternlite of Shanching village and �Pvt� Ahenmi of Heinganglok village, all from the NSCN (IM) hailing from Ukhrul district of Manipur.

The bodies have been reportedly taken to the NSCN (IM)�s CHQ, Camp Hebron, from South police station, Kohima after the bodies were identified with the help of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG).

Several spent cases of AK and 9 mm were also recovered from the site by police, who confirmed that none of the organizations have claimed responsibility for the killings.

The NSCN (K) has reportedly denied any hand in the killings.

According to sources, three taxis were seen in the area while villagers heard the gunshots at around 6 pm yesterday and informed the police about the dead bodies this morning at around 8.30 am.

Meanwhile, NSCN-IM sources have revealed that the five victims were abducted by armed miscreants at around 4 pm on Saturday from Piphema while on their way to Dimapur.

On receiving the information, the NSCN-IM also carried out intensive search operations but to no avail.

The NSCN-IM while reacting to the killing of the five people from the outfit has said that in the nature of such animosity the cold blooded killing of five NSCN-IM members by the Khaplang group comes as no surprise.

�The Khaplang group will go to the extent of targeting NSCN anytime and anywhere, because the nature of its helplessness after having failed to make any political meaning of its existence despite the signing of ceasefire with the Government of India in the footstep of NSCN is forcing them to resort to the most sadistic killing that any rudeless human being can conceive�, said the NSCN-IM said in a statement.

�This is the story about the gruesome killing of five NSCN members by the reactionary forces of the Khaplang group at around 5 pm at the spot between Jotsoma and Piphema on September 08, 2007,� added the NSCN-IM statement.

It further stated that the five were on their way to Dimapur from Ukhrul and after crossing Kohima they were waylaid along with the Bolero they were traveling.

They were taken to the spot to ascertain their individual identities.

Major PK Stone identified as Chaplain GHQ was established beyond doubt.

His wife Maireila, a mother of four children was also clearly identified later.

The other members, Lance Corporal Ngashankhui, Pte Ahenmi Sareo and Pte Eastern Light Ragui were also all identified as Tangkhuls.

It was then that the most inhuman killing was let loose on the five innocent victims, said the NSCN-IM statement.

�What shocked the conscience of the public who received the bodies at Dimapur was the utter disregard for a person attached with the God-given assignment as Chaplain, and the treatment normally given to fairer sex and a mother was just not given any respect.

She was just a mere housewife like most other woman with special attachment to the care of the young growing kids who are in need of the mother�s care in the most loving manner,� further stated the NSCN-IM, adding, �We are all Christians, including Khaplang group and prayer is a part of daily Christian life.

Chaplain in Christian life performs the motivating role to make a meaning of a meaning of God worship.

Forget about human animosity, but God-given figure ought to have been given the last respect and departing dignity�.

The NSCN-IM then concluded by saying that human judgment may fail but God�s judgment never fails.

�By Naga tradition and going by the nature of God, to disgrace a woman and his servant never emerge a winner in the ultimate scheme of things.� said the NSCN-IM in a statement issued by its MIP late tonight.

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