Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12:
Three suspected UG cadres were slain in a shoot out with troops of 4 Assam Rifles at Tingri Haraoching, about 4 kms North East of Sekmai police station at about 10.30 pm yesterday.
In a statement, PRO of Assam Rifles stated that based on confirmed information about the movements of militants and impending meeting between KYKL and PULF cadres at Tingri area near Awang Leikinthabi under Sekmai police station, troops of 4 Assam Rifles under 9 Sector AR launched an operation on August 11 night.
The movement of the militants was confirmed at 9 pm of August 11, said the PRO and added that the operation was planned in great details.
During the course of the operation a fierce gun fight ensued between the AR troops and the militants for about 20 minutes.
In the encounter three militants were killed while trying to escape, said the AR PRO and added that a search of the site led to the recovery of one 9mm one 7.56 mm Italian made pistol, one 9 mm Chinese pistol, four rounds of 9 mm arid, seven rounds of 7.56 mm, one Chinese grenade and three KYKL letter heads signed by the Deputy Finance Secretary of KYKL.
The bodies have been identified as that of one KYKL cadre and two PULF cadres.
The bodies have been handed over Sekmai police station.
Three 9 mm pistols, a Chinese hand grenade and demand notes belonging to the proscribed KYKL were recovered from the slain cadres.
Sekmai police have picked up the corpses and deposited at RIMS mortuary.
Of the three slain cadres, one was wearing a black T shirt and black trousers.
Another was wearing a half-sleeve shirt of brown colour and a grey Coloured pant.
The third one wore a yellow shirt and dark brown trousers.
Numerous bullet marks were observed on the bodies of the deceased cadres.
The ear lobes of two of them were not pierced.
NSCN I-M welcomes: NSCN (I-M) has welcomed the recent joining of three members of the rival Khaplang faction to its fold.
In a statement, ministry of information and publicity of NSCN (I-M) said that sensing the political reality of the Naga political movement that is going on under the banner of NSCN, the changed reactions is being felt in the Khaplang group as indicated by the gradual shifting of allegiance towards the mainstream NSCN.
The three members of Khaplang group namely Kiyelu, SO of Aghautito village, belonging to the Northern Sema; Pukhato; Rajau Peyu, also from Aghautito village, Northern Sema and lance corporal Khekavi of Zhekise village, belonging to the Western Sema, all fromLotha Region, who joined NSCN on August 11, 2007 have expressed the sorry state of affairs in Khaplang group bereft of any political vision, the statement said.
The NSCN is hopeful that more will follow in the days to come to avoid the indignity of being left out in political wilderness, the statement added.