In an ugly shoot-out of warring Naga rebels in the Kamjong district of Manipur, at least four cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) Eastern Flank faction were killed, the officials confirmed on Sunday. The event occurred and occurred on a Saturday evening between 8:30 pm to 9:20 pm in the Hongbei village area under the Kasom Khullen block at the ImphalKasom Khullen road.
As the initial reports had it, the cadres of the NSCN Eastern Flank were allegedly ambushed by suspected members of NSCN-IM (Isak-Muivah) group who had supposedly prepared strategic positions in advance. Out of the six people who were present at the time of ambush, four were shot dead, and the remaining two were injured and could escape.
The killed have been reported as having been Major (Posthumous) Sochipem Phungshok, Sergeant Major (Posthumous) Zairay Vasah, Sergeant (Posthumous) Bahnle Ahlahpya and Sergeant (Posthumous) Thansomi Washi. The group, Naga Army, in an official release of the Government of the People Republic of Nagalim (Eastern Flank), lamented the death and said that the cadres were killed in line of duty.
The statement also indicated that the cadres were in a mission of operation that has to do with surveillance of timber movement and other activities in the Indo-Myanmar border. They were said to have earlier in the day mingled with other groups in the vicinity before and on their way back they met the attackers.
The situation is further under close monitoring by security forces and tensions are still high within the region after the clash.