Dimapur, May 17 : In continuing turf war between rival Naga underground groups, at least 15 people, including a civilian, were on Friday killed in a gunbattle near Dimapur and a mob ransacked an NSCN(IM) Ceasefire Monitoring Cell office there.
Villagers said there was a heavy exchange of fire between two groups of NSCN in the morning at Seithekim-C village about 15 km from Dimapur.
The police, along with villagers, recovered 13 bodies of cadre of GPRN/NSCN (Unification) but did not find any arms on the bodies, which were believed to have been taken away by the rival cadre.
A spokesman of NSCN (Unification) told newsmen that its members, who had gone to ascertain if the rival group had set up any camp in the area, were ambushed by a large group of NSCN(IM).
It was bloody and turbulent Friday in and around Dimapur when a total of 15 were killed during nearly twelve hours of sporadic acts of violence and arson precipitated by factional clash between rival NSCN groups.
Timeline:
Those killed included 14 from the “GPRN/NSCN” cadre and a civilian, while four other civilians were injured during a series of incidents that began at Seithekima ‘C’.
5:30 am
Fourteen GPRN/NSCN activists were killed at Seithekima-C village. According to GPRN/NSCN deputy kilonser (publicity cell) Alezo Venuh, the activists were killed in an ambush on their return after ascertaining reports about presence of rivals at PCC campus.
Thirteen died on the spot while one, who was seriously injured, later succumbed to injuries. Initially 12 bodies were recovered by police. Later another was recovered. DC Maongwati Aier and SP Liremo Lotha rushed to the spot on learning of the incident.
12 noon
Several hundred people were on hand when the dead bodies were brought in a police truck at the Diphupar Police Station. The national highway 39 was blocked as the crowd shouted slogans “we are all for unification”. The vehicles of former minister Dr. T.M. Lotha and agriculture minister Chumben Murry, which were coming from Kohima, were also damaged.
12:45 pm
The crowd soon rushed to the NSCN (I-M) cease fire monitoring cell office a few yards away as some began pelting stones. Later, some groups began hurling petrol bombs and setting fire to a bamboo kitchen. Armed NSCN (I-M) activists started firing blank shots to ward off the mob.
One youth, armed with a pistol, climbed up the building and started firing at those inside. It could not be ascertained if he was a civilian or belonging to a cadre. Around 30 IRB personnel reached the spot but they were prevented from moving towards the Monitoring Cell when the public, mostly women, blocked the road.
Even as the commotion ran rife outside, gun shots were fired intermittently by NSCN (I-M) activists holed up inside the Monitoring Cell. After nearly two hours at around 2:45 pm, some armed NSCN (I-M) activists arrived and later those inside also came out. The cadres soon resorted to firing in which one civilian was hit on the stomach and died while three other civilians were injured.
The civilian who was killed was later identified as Avi Konyak, an employee of a local cable network. The other injured were not identified at the time of filing this report but sources said one of them was from Chekiye village. The arrival of some activists of the GPRN/NSCN led to a fierce gun battle that went on till 5 pm.
DC Maongwati and SP Lerimo along with DMC chairman Kekhaho Assumi arrived but they could not stop the exchange of fire. The IRB personnel were also helpless. It was estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 shots were fired in Diphupar alone. An irate mob burnt down three houses in the vicinity belonging to some NSCN (I-M) functionaries and a civilian.
5:30 pm
Meanwhile, in another incident, another group of people set fire to two houses at Wungram Colony. There was an exchange of fire between the two factions in the area at around 5:30 pm. A civilian was injured in the crossfire here.
Earlier in the day, unidentified youths forced closure of shops in the city. All shops and business establishments in Dimapur remained closed and denizens remained indoors due to apprehension.
Names of activists killed
1. “Capt” Atoyi Sumi of Yehemi village
2. “Lt” Nokshamba Yimchunger of Old Showuba village
3. “2nd Lt” Vikishe Sumi of Phisami village
4. “2nd Lt” Khetoshe Sumi of Saghemi village
5. “2nd Lt” Moa Yimchunger of Old Showuba village,
6. “Sgt Maj” Kiuthro Yimchunger of Longkonger village,
7. “Sgt Maj”Hokheyi Sumi of Phisami village
8. “Sgt Maj”Hekiye Sumi of Lotovi village
9. “Sgt Maj”David Dimasa of Ghaneshnagar village
10. “Sgt” Samuel Sumi of R. Hovishe village
11. “Sgt” Lokho of Kalinamai village
12. “Sgt” Mughato of Ghokuto village
13. “Cprl” Mughalu of Shikavi village
14. “Pvt” Akito Sumi of Kuhoxu village.
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