Security forces on Friday gunned down as many as seven cadres of the Khaplang faction of NSCN in Tuensang district in Nagaland, thus thrusting a major blow on the rebel group that had abrogated its 14-year old ceasefire with the government of India and had returned to the path of violence. The incident occurred when a patrol of security forces was carrying out routine domination of the border area along Pangsha town in Tuensang district when they saw one motorcycle, one Gypsy and one Bolero vehicle approaching along the road. “Just as the security force patrol asked the motorcycle to halt for checking, there was intense firing from the Gypsy and Bolero which were following behind. The security forces retaliated with equal fire power, killing seven militants who later were identified as cadres of NSCN(K),” a statement issued by the Assam Rifles PRO in Kohima said. Three over-ground workers were injured. [related-post] A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the neutralised militants. One soldier of the security forces also sustained injuries in the firing from the NSCN(K) cadres, the press release said. It was on June 4 that the NSCN(K) had laid an ambush and attacked a convoy of security personnel in Chandel district in Manipur, killing 18 jawans and injuring eleven others. The NSCN(K) cadres who were killed in the encounter were from a camp located at Ponyu village inside Myanmar which is headed by one self-styled Lt gen Niki Sumi, the press release said. “There have been regular inputs of movement of NSCN(K) cadres from camps located inside Myanmar to the border villages of India for collection of extortion money (sent from Dimapur and Kohima etc), illegal taxation from villagers, purchase of ration and other daily necessities,” the press release added. “The trans border movement of the NSCN(K) cadres was being carried out under the garb of the Free Movement Regime existing between the two countries. However, since the rules of Free Movement Regime are not being implemented effectively by the border administrations, the loopholes are being exploited by the anti social elements including cadres of NSCN(K), ULFA(I), NDFB(S) etc for unhindered movement across the border,” the Assam Rifles press release said.
