Tingplik Express

Dimapur | May 16: A day of historic importance in the annals of Naga history—May 16 ‘Plebiscite Day’—turned bloody with the reported killing of fifteen persons including fourteen underground cadres belonging to the Khaplang group of the NSCN. A civilian was killed in the crossfire in one of the bloodiest gunbattle witnessed in recent memory between rival NSCN groups. Tension still run high in Dimapur with heavy firing taking place in different places in the district like Seithikima and Wungrum colony, Purana Bazar through out the day, even as fourteen cadres belonging to the NSCN (K) were killed in an “ambush” at the Seithikima ‘C’ village area, near Patkai Christian College here, early this morning. The Ceasefire Monitoring Group office was also gheraoed by infuriated citizens and a shoot out took place at the office premises between the holed up NSCN (IM) cadres and NSCN (K) cadres which led to the killing of a civilian, one Avi Konyak.
The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur has clamped CrPc 144 (curfew) in the entire district till further orders. The city is tense and the situation volatile with the people fearing a whole scale retaliatory attack by the NSCN (K) to avenge the deaths of its cadres this morning.
Early this morning, Dimapur police recovered the dead bodies of twelve camouflaged cadres belonging to the NSCN (K) from the paddy fields in Seithikima ‘C’ village near Patkai Christian College. Police said that one injured NSCN (K) cadre was admitted to hospital.
Residents of the area said that firing started at round 5:55 am in the Chumukedima Old Post Office area; however, the public gathered and chased out the cadres from the area into the fields, where the firing continued for more than one hour leading to the death of fourteen cadres. The dead bodies recovered from different places in the paddy field, were taken to the Diphupar Police station, from where relatives took them away.
The NSCN (K) however, maintained that firing started “inside” the Patkai Christian College compound, when its cadres went out to “investigate” the reported presence of NSCN (IM) cadres in the college. They were “ambushed” by the NSCN (IM) cadres, it claimed.

However, emotions ran high with wailing relatives and hundreds of citizens blocking the busy National highway-39 for more than four hours with coffins of the slain cadres laid on the highway, a few meters away from the Diphupar Police Station. A group of citizens led by women set off for the Cease fire Monitoring Group Office nearby in Diphupar, and gheraoed it. Some NSCN (IM) cadres were inside the office.
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However, after about one hour of standoff by the public who were armed with sticks and stones; shots rang up from the inside the office. While, words reached that the both the rival factions were sending reinforcements, heavy firing of shots erupted, which ultimately led to the injury of two unidentified civilians and the dead of one civilian identified as Avi son of Hon Jei of Hoyal village under Mon district. Police remained helpless even as the firing happened just in front of them.
“Our hands are tied, not from the front but from the back,” said an IRB commander. Dimapur Deputy Commissioner, Maong Aier suspected that the holed NSCN (IM) cadres might have been rescued by their cadres. Firing continued for another more than three hours, till nearly 5 pm.
Meanwhile, firing was reported at Wungram colony, Purana Bazar. However, there are no reports of death or injuries. Police said that a huge mob gathered near the Wungram colony ready to attack the residents of the area, however, with the timely intervention of the district administration and police, the situation was brought under control and the mob dispersed. The Deputy Commissioner, Maong Aier said that the administration has requisitioned six companies of police and also requisitioned the CRPF and the Assam Rifles, which will be deployed in all the ‘vulnerable’ and volatile area in the district. He has also promulgated Section 144 Cr Pc in and around Dimapur till Chumukedima town until further order. ‘A crowd of not more than four persons will be allowed to move in the town till the section 144 Cr PC is lifted’.
Late this evening, the Nagaland DGP Changkija and Nagaland Commissioner, HK Khullu also arrived in Dimapur and had a meeting with the Dimapur administration and police.

List of 14 cadres killed

1. “Captain” Atoyi Sumi of Yehemi village
2. “Lieutenant” Nokshamba Yimchunger of Old Showuba village
3. “2nd Lieutenant” Vikishe Sumi of Phisami village
4. “2nd Lieutenant” Khetoshe Sumi of Saghemi village
5. “2nd Lieutenant” Moa Yimchunger of Old Showuba village
6. “Sergeant Major” Kiuthro Yimchunger of Longkonger village
7. “Sergeant Major” Hokheyi Sumi of Phisami village
8. “Sergeant Major” Hekiye Sumi of Lotovi village
9. “Sergeant Major” David Dimasa of Ghaneshnagar village
10. “Sergeant” Samuel Sumi of R. Hovishe village
11. “Sergeant” Lokho of Kalinamai village
12. “Sergeant” Mughato of Ghokuto village
13. “Corporal” Mughalu of Shikavi village and
14. “Private” Akito Sumi of Kuhoxu village
Civilian killed
Avi Konyak of Hoyal village under Mon district