Imphal, April 03 2009: The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Nungba Zone has appealed the concerned armed group not to cause the recurrence of the unfortunate incident of shoot-out at Pinjang village in Tamenglong district which happened on March 30 last at the village.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, the secretary of ZYF, Nungba Zone, Chuthailung Malangmei said that the incident happened due to the claim made by the Kukis that the village belongs to them.

He said that exchange of gunfire ensued on the early morning of March 30 when KNF (MC) cadres entered the village and come across a patrolling party of the NSCN (IM) cadres who reached the place before them.

It may be recalled that one militant was reportedly killed while two militants sustained injuries in a gunfight that ensued at Punjang village in Tamenglong district early morning on March 30 .

Chuthailung said that Pinjang is a village inhabited by the Zeliangrong tribe since time immemorial.

But it was given away to the Kukis by the British as a reward for their assistance to the British much against the wishes of the then Zeliangrong village leaders.

He said that the Kabuis re-settled in the village when the Kuki villagers fled the village during the communal clash in 1993.He said that the Kabuis have re-inhabited the village for around 15 years now.

Chuthailung said that the Kukis are now reclaiming the village, which the Zeliangrong tribe resisted on ground that the village belongs to them since long time back.

He further said that the Kukis have now continued their attempt to reclaim the village by using several tactics which causes insecurity to the villagers.

Speaking to this reporter, the commander of the NSCN (IM) patrol party that had a gunfight with the Kuki underground on March 30 last, Arei Chiru said that an 18-member team of the NSCN (IM) had reached Pinjang village following a request to the GPRN from the villagers to look after the village in the wake of the threat.

He said that over 30 armed cadres of the Kuki underground group intruded in the village on the morning of March 30 without prior information which forced the NSCN (IM) patrol party to open fire causing the unfortunate incident to happen.

The ZYF, Nungba Zone secretary, Chuthuilung appealed all Kuki underground groups to restrain from causing such incident in the future while calling for the end of the unfortunate incident.

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