Imphal, February 21: Independent candidate from Tamenglong Assembly Constituency Samuel Jendai escaped a bid on his life when unidentified gunmen ambushed him with sophisticated weapons today.

However on the other hand the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region alleged that the candidate had ordered his own security guards to open blank fire in order to procure more bullets for the NSCN-IM.

Samuel Jendai when contacted by Newmai News Network, said that he along with his supporters and security guards had gone to a village called Wairangba and Bhalok, some 27 kms away from Tamenglong headquarters when some underground cadres came out from the gate of the village and started opening fire forcing the candidate�s security guards to return fire and retaliate.

The candidate narrated that the gunmen opened about 200 rounds of gun-fire while attempting to assassinate him.

Samuel Jendai, however, did not say which group or outfit could have been behind the act.

The incident occurred at 2.30 pm today, according to the candidate.

He also said that the unidentified gunmen used a bomb and LMG guns while mounting the attack.

Samuel Jendai has won from Tamenglong AC for the fourth consecutive time and he is in the fray this time his seat this time as the consensus candidate of the UNC.

Interestingly, today's incident occurred at the native village of his rival candidate Khangthuanang Panmei who was abducted and released by the NSCN-IM recently.

Meanwhile, the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region has said that Samuel Jendai has accused the outfit for the attack.

The Khaplang faction of the NSCN alleged that it was a typical tactic of Samuel Jendai saying that today's incident was not the first time when the candidate had �practised�.

The outfit while talking to NNN said that earlier when Samuel Jendai was the Tribal Development Minister, he had fitted some powerful crackers and exploded them at his residence and complained that the proscribed KCP had attacked him.

The NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region further alleged that the incident at Wairangba was nothing but a foolish tactic to supply new bullets for the NSCN-IM.

The outfit charged that Samuel Jendai had ordered his security guards to open fire in the air and dubbed it as an attack on him so that his security guards can demand more bullets and tighter security.

The extra bullets will go to the NSCN-IM, claimed the NSCN (K) further.

Comment