Imphal, October 03: With the quit notice served by the Khaplang faction of the NSCN hanging over the heads of the Tangkhul community at Nagaland, a 17 year Tangkhul student, originally from Ukhrul and settled at Kohima was shot dead yesterday evening by suspected NSCN (K) cadres.

The late youth, identified as Shinmi Singnaishui was reportedly dragged out from his house by the armed persons who first inquired where his father was, said sources.

On being told that his father was not at home, the gunmen took away the youth and later shot him dead, said sources.

The mother and sister of the youth tried to save him from the hands of the armed men but their efforts went in vain.

The body has been handed over to family members after post mortem.

Chief Minister O Ibobi on being contacted by The Sangai Express this evening said that he has received the information and added that instructions have been issued to DGP AK Parashar to get the detailed reports.

Efforts to contact the SP of Kohima drew blank.

The Ukhrul police could not be contacted too.

When The Sangai Express contacted Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh this evening over the latest development, the officer replied that no formal intimation has been received from the Nagaland Government but assured that he would try to get in touch with the officials concerned.

The Home Minister of the Nagaland Government also could not be contacted for his comments as the line was not passed on to him by his staff.

Sources from Dimapur said that search operations were launched soon after the incident but there is no report of any arrest till the time of filing this report.

There is no visible step taken up by the Nagaland Government following the incident, added the sources.

On being contacted, the Deputy Kilonser of the Information Department of the NSCN (IM) Kraibo Chawang said that his organisation strongly condemns the act and added that all right thinking people should come forward and condemn the killing.

Replying to a question, Chawang said that the NSCN (IM) will try its best to protect innocent Nagas from the Khaplang group and added that additional NSCN (IM) cadres have been deputed to Kohima.

Following the killing of the youth, an emergency Cabinet meeting of the NSCN (IM) was held today, he informed and added that a Joint Council Meeting will be held on October 6 to discuss the issue.

Going on the offensive, Chawang claimed that this is not the first time that the Khaplang group has served quit notice on the Tangkhuls in Nagaland and recalled the same notice that was issued in 1994. In 1995-96 the Khaplang group was sponsored by the Indian Government who pumped in Rs 103 crores in the name of peace to enable them to carry out their designs, claimed Chawang.

The Khaplang group has developed the habit of dubbing anyone as terrorists, said Chawang and added that scientists, teachers, singers, civilians etc are being dubbed as terrorists.

The Deputy Kilonser also recalled that killing of a scientist, A Muivah by the Khaplang group when the first quit notice was served.

The present case is a replica of the Indian sponsored terrorism on the Naga during 1994-95, he claimed.

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