Tingplik Express

Kohima, May 9: Chased out of civilian areas by residents of 4th Mile and Diphupar in Dimapur in the afternoon, militants of the NSCN (Unification) group last night attacked a training centre of its rival, the NSCN (I-M), in retaliation to the raid on one of its mobile camps earlier in the day.

The NSCN (U) also executed a senior member of the NSCN (I-M) last night for having abducted a school student a few days back.

There was no report of casualty on any side, but the spokesman for the NSCN (U), Akaho Assumi, said their cadres attacked the training centre of the rival group near Camp Hebron, the council headquarters of the NSCN (I-M). “We attacked their centre in retaliation to yesterday’s attack on our mobile camp,” Assumi today said.

The outfit’s spokesman said its cadres came down from the Athibung side and attacked the centre. Athibung is not far from the central headquarters and general headquarters of the NSCN (I-M). Later, the same group ambushed the patrol party of the NSCN (I-M) in the same area and killed a rival member, Athiko Mao. The NSCN (U) said there could be more casualties on the rival’s side.

The NSCN (U) executed Athong Pongener, joint secretary in NSCN (I-M), and dumped his body at United Naga village near 4th Mile in Dimapur. Pongener was apprehended by the rival faction for his role in the kidnapping of a non-Naga schoolboy on May 3 from Delhi Public School and demanding a ransom of Rs 25 lakh. Two days later, Pongener was taken into Unification’s custody where he confessed to the crime. The demand was later scaled down to Rs 5 lakh.

The boy was released the same day by the captors after receiving Rs 3 lakh as an “advance ransom”. During interrogation, Pongener said it was “purely personal” and there was no directive from the higher-ups of the NSCN (I-M) to abduct the boy. “We executed him last night,” Assumi told The Tingplik Express.

In 4th Mile and Diphupar areas of Dimapur, offices were shut and shops and business establishments downed shutters in protest against continuous harassment by militants.

Yesterday, armed with machetes, spears and sticks, the residents chased the militants of the rival factions. But before retreating, rebels of the NSCN (I-M) launched an attack with mortars and machineguns on a hut where members of the Unification faction were holed up. But the militants escaped.

The residents vented their anger on a police vehicle and an IRB battalion that arrived after the militants had left. Home minister Imkong L. Imchen has again appealed to the factions to declare a truce.