Reacting to the claim of NSCN (K) that it had killed six NSCN (I-M) members and left more than ten injured after an exchange of fire at a village in Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh July 11, the NSCN (I-M) Saturday disputed the casualty figure saying it was one against five. According to the MIP, three from Khaplang faction and two unidentified non-Nagas, most likely Meiteis, were killed in the gunfight. The NSCN (I-M) said one of its members “corporal” Shangreipem of Langdang village, WTR sustained fatal wounds during the battle and later succumbed to injury. The deceased was laid to rest at Kapo village, it said.
In an emailed statement, the GHQ “Naga army” PRO/IPR “lt. col.” S. Shipo revealed that its situation monitoring and analysis cell (SMAC), prompted by “boastful propaganda” of the MIP (Khaplang), swung into action to ascertain the facts and figures related to the July 11 incident. Shipo said the skirmish took place following “offensive operation” launched by combined forces of “Khaplang boys” in collusion with Assamese and Manipuri militants who emerged recently from across the international boundary. ‘Lt’Col’Shipo said that area where the skirmish took place fell under the jurisdiction of Shongshen battalion of “Naga army”.
Meanwhile, in another statement received here today, the MIP of the NSCN (I-M) slammed the “Khaplang group” for resorting to the “same usual game” of misleading the public by providing wrong picture of the New Kothing village in Tirap district when Khaplang forces attacked its camp on July 11. “It was a surprise attack but Naga Army retaliated with lightning speed with many of the Khaplang boys wounded in the process and those killed carried away in hurry,” the MIP said. The NSCN (I-M) said the incident reminded it of “violent prone Khaplang group” that attacked and torched Hazik and Phongshom villages on March 15 in “eastern Nagalim” but laid the blame on the NSCN.
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