Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 25
The NSCN-K (Angmai–Mulatonu) on Sunday claimed “full responsibility” for the fatal shooting of a person whose body was found near Sangsa junction, Tizit, between 7:30 and 8:00 pm on January 23.
The deceased was identified as Manwang Leipha (43), a Major of the NSCN/GPRN (Yung Aung).
In a statement issued by its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), the NSCN-K (Angmai–Mulatonu) said the incident took place at around 7:30 pm at Longphaoh village under the Tizit area of Mon district and involved its special unit.
The group described the incident as “capital punishment,” allegedly carried out in retaliation for what it termed a direct attack by the Yung Aung group at Khammataing village, in which two of its cadres were killed. It also alleged that Leipha had been involved in “anti–NSCN-K activities” despite being warned on multiple occasions.
The NSCN-K (Angmai–Mulatonu) further claimed that village authorities had been informed and urged to restrain his actions, but alleged that no action was taken.
Referring to the Khammataing incident, the group also claimed that despite “repeated initiatives” to promote peace and unity, including the unconditional release of several Yung Aung group cadres along with seized weapons, the rival group had responded with hostility.
NSCN-K (Yung Aung) condemns
Meanwhile, the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) condemned, in the severest terms, what it described as a “gruesome and senseless murder.”
In a separate statement issued by its MIP, the group alleged that Leipha was unarmed at the time of the incident and was on leave on health grounds after being released from an Indian jail last month.
It further alleged that he was shot at “point-blank range by armed assailants led by Brig. Noktha,” whom it also accused of involvement in another killing in 2023.
Terming the incident a “cowardly act,” the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) accused the NSCN-K (Angmai–Mulatonu) of resorting to “spreading fear psychosis through secret killings” instead of open confrontation and asserted that the matter would be taken seriously.
Meanwhile, saluting Leipha for his service to the Naga cause, the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) announced that he had been posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Commander-in-Chief of the Naga Army.
It further conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
As reported earlier, Mon police said that Leipha had recently been released on bail in connection with a 2025 case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Section 147) and Sections 7 and 8 of the Nagaland Security Regulation.
The killing comes amid heightened tension following recent clashes between rival NSCN-K groups across the international border in the Pangsaung area of the Naga Self-Administered Zone in Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
The Shanry Range Students’ Association on Sunday also informed that an armed confrontation took place between the two groups in the wee hours of January 24 at Toke village, and demanded an immediate cessation of all hostilities.
