IMPHAL, March 31: The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has stated that on March 30 a fierce gun fight broke out between the Front and NSCN-IM at Taosang Khunou in Tamenglong.
According to a release of the ZUF, the showdown hitched up when the cadres of Front met NSCN-IM during regular round of patrolling in the area. On the shoot out one NSCN-IM cadre, Joshua Thangal was killed and the deceased body was attended by the villagers of Taosang Khunou.
It said several others of NSCN-IM cadres were also injured in the fight.
The NSCN-IM men were sharing the temporary camp of Gurkha Regiment which is station at Taosang in recent past to cordon the influence of the front, it claimed.
The Indian security forces continue to join hands with NSCN-IM in hunting the cadres of the Front, it said. The infiltration of NSCN-IM and frisking of Gurkha Regiment has brought immense inconveniences to the villagers. In one instance, village authority, Bamsuang Kamei s/o Lt. Gaigengpou Kamei was beaten black and blue by the Gurkha Regiment falsely charging him of supplying food to cadres of the Front and now undergoing treatment at RIMS, it said.
The NSCN-IM cadres continued to forcefully use the villagers as sentry, shamelessly drag away and loot villagers`™ rations and livestock of Soubunglong, Taosang, Lungrang and the vicinity villages at gun point, which trespassed the right to livelihood and demean the customary laws, the release charged.
They also brutalized the villagers under the pretext of Naga Nationalism, the release said.
The villagers could not go to field because of large presence of Gurkha Regiment and NSCN-IM both in village and surrounding jungles. Many villagers of surrounding areas have fled their villages, particularly Taosang looks deserted as the village is being occupied by Gurkha Regiment and NSCN-IM sharing camp. The Gurkha Regiment, security forces for national security joining hand with NSCN-IM who fight for succession from India is another seditious measures vying to the powers of some vested politicians and their higher-up, it said.
In the recent past the Zeliangrong area has unexpectedly created chaos and insecurity. Hence the ZUF is closely monitoring the situation and the involvement of local politicians is narrowly watching over. The Front will deal to whosoever without any hesitation if they don`™t refrain from their evil ways. For any untoward circumstances in the future the NSCN-IM and the politicians shall be held responsible, it said.