Big show down between Naga militant outfits imminent in Tamenglong district

Fear psychosis gripped among villagers

Our Bureau
TAMENGLONG/DIMAPUR, March 22

Tension is fast mounting in Tamenglong district of Manipur as Naga underground groups tussle to dominate the district. Sources said that the NSCN-IM with large number of re-enforcement is now fast making inroads to the areas dominated by rival outfits such as the NSCN-K and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF). From time to time there have been clashes. Sources said that warring groups are determined not to back off. Following this development fear psychosis has gripped among the Zeliangrong villagers.
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen launched a heavy attack on the 2/5th Gurkha Regiment on Saturday morning at Khoupum L Khunou Kajurong village under Nungba police station of the district. The team of the regiment also retaliated and there was heavy fire exchange between the two sides for around 20 minutes. Four personnel including a JCO was injured in the attack.
The injured JCO has been identified as Shav Chittra Bahadur.
His left leg was hit by a bullet. The other injured riflemen were identified as Y Anand Singh, R Bahadur Thapa and Dorji Sherpa. All the four injured were admitted at the 183rd Military Hospital, Leimakhong in the outskirt of Imphal for treatment.
Sources said the attack was made by the unidentified gunmen when the Gurkha Regiment team was on its routine ROP. Later, after the heavy gunfire, additional forces of the army rushed to the spot and conducted widespread operation in the area. On hearing the prolonged gun shots, frightened villagers rushed to neighbouring villages for safety.
The NSCN-K has claimed responsibility for the attack. The outfit said two personnel of ‘Gorkha Rifles’ in Tamenglong district, Manipur were killedin the attack.
Earlier on Thursday last, a fierce gun battle occurred at Guiteng in Khoupum valley between the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and NSCN-IM, said the ZUF in a press note. It alleged that the NSCN-IM cadres ‘intruded’ the ZUF area and carried out activities which were against the Naga customary and international human rights norms. The ZUF further alleged that the cadres of NSCN-IM were dictating and harassing the innocent villagers at will by ordering to bring their domestic livestock, rice and other essential commodities without payment. The villagers were also at asked to carry their items as porters at gun-point to different places of their destinations, the press note ZUF added. The harshest to bear for the villagers was that the NSCN-IM made them to stand as watchmen in different strategic locations and also asked them to guard their camps. “Thus, to address the miseries of the villagers, ZUF carried out an operation against them. In the operation, two of NSCN-IM cadres were shot dead on spot and another two were seriously wounded. In aftermath of the operation the cadres of ZUF also recovered one AK 47 rifle with large quantity of ammunition and two common bags,” claimed the ZUF.