Kohima, Apr 23 : Dimapur erupted in internecine violence once again today as gun-toting Naga militants fought pitched battles in the commercial hub of Nagaland.
Four militants died — shot dead, burnt alive and executed in gory fratricidal killings — as any remnants of truce between the warring groups were thrown to the winds.
Three of them died in clashes between the Isak-Muivah and Unification groups of the NSCN at three different places under Diphupar police station this afternoon. The dead have been identified as Atovi Chishi and Hukheto Yepto of Unification and N. Thokcham of the Isak-Muivah group.
Another Isak-Muivah cadre sustained bullet injuries in one of the clashes.
The fourth militant who died belonged to the Isak-Muivah group and was executed by Unification cadres. He had been held captive with another member of his group for the past two weeks.
“We have executed a Tangkhul cadre,” Unification spokesperson Hokato Sumi said from the group’s Vihokhu camp, 20km from Dimapur, adding that another NSCN (I-M) cadre had escaped from their custody this afternoon. He did not disclose the identities of the cadres.
Sumi said their main target were the Tangkhuls, who were opposed to unification of the Naga groups.
Police quoted eyewitnesses as saying that one of the two Unification militants killed in the clashes was burnt alive when the vehicle he was travelling in was set on fire by the rival faction near Sovima.
The clashes started at Purana Bazaar in Dimapur in the afternoon and spread to 7th Mile, Sovima and Diphupar. Police said there was sporadic exchange of fire at 5th Mile till late in the evening.
The Naga groups have renewed their feud in recent times, notwithstanding the unprecedented security in and around Dimapur and despite the truce signed between them in December last year.
The ceasefire had been declared in Kohima on December 7 during a joint meeting sponsored by goanburas and dubashis (chiefs of Naga customary laws).
There have been several killings since, with the Isak-Muivah, Unification and Khaplang groups accusing each other of violating the truce.
The Isak-Muivah and Unification factions had clashed not even a week ago with the former gunning down two activists of the latter in Dimapur on the afternoon of April 17.
The attack by Isak-Muivah was suspected to be a revenge killing as the Unification group had attacked two of its activists that morning. The clashes had taken place just a day after NSCN (I-M) discussed its rival with Delhi during a round of peace talks.
Following the latest incidents, the Khaplang group has called an emergency meeting at Mon on Thursday. It will be attended by all the top functionaries of the outfit.
Several Naga organisations, Church leaders and state government have appealed to the factions to restrain themselves in the larger interest of the Naga people.
Telegraph India
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