Dimapur, October 19 (MExN): The GPRN/NSCN on Tuesday issued a statement in connection with the suspected shootout between cadres of the GPRN/NSCN and the NSCN-K (Niki group) in Dimapur on the night of October 17.
“GPRN/NSCN is compelled to elucidate the course of the exact events,” a press release from the group’s MIP stated. Alleging the rival cadre of intrusion, it stated that the intrusion provoked its cadre to retaliate.
It held that contrary to “known security operating procedures for every Designated Camp,” which restricts entry and movement within certain limits, “a group of miscreants in a state government registered vehicle forcefully intruded at GPRN/NSCN camp periphery” on the night of October 17.
When stopped by “Naga Army personnel” for ascertaining their identities, it said, “One of the occupants alighted and started firing indiscriminately which intrinsically provoked the Naga army on duty to retaliate in self defence.”
In the subsequent shootout, “One of the occupants succumbed… while the remaining escaped in the cover of darkness. One assailant was later caught in the vicinity of CHQ,” it said.
“It is needless to point out the ulterior motives of the adversary. Nevertheless, recovery of huge amounts of ammunition from an apprehended cadre and recovery of an assault weapon from the incident area revealed the true intention of the assailants,” the MIP maintained.
It further said that the GPRN/NSCN, despite its utmost commitment to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, had been challenged to confront the situation as deemed necessary. “Therefore this brief statement should sum up the concocted stories carried out by certain vested elements,” it added.
Naga orgs appeal for peace
Condemning the incident, the Global Naga Forum issued a statement stating that the Naga people, regardless of ideological and political differences, must agree and be clear that, “Any group that resorts to Naga-on-Naga violence and murder is by those very acts an enemy of the people and of the Naga cause.”
“Claiming the Naga cause of freedom and self-determination, then taking away the right of our own people to live, is absurd. It is barbaric, inhuman, and morally repugnant by the standards of any civilized society,” the GNF asserted.
Stating that the Naga people are “dead tired of the endless divisions, enmities, and killings,” the GNF said that it is time to start resolving the problems through non-violent negotiations and commitment to a process of healing. “Any Naga political groups or civil society organisations whose loyalty to the group is greater than loyalty to the greater Naga cause are not patriots,” it added.
Mourning the death of Atoka Kinimi, the GNF empathized with his family and prayed that they may find solace in God’s grace and healing power.
In a separate statement, the 14 Tribal Hohos of Nagaland condemned the act of violence which it said, has created social unrest. “At these times of peaceful atmosphere, the act of violence has no place in the civilized society, as it not only create more misunderstandings but brings division which may hamper the ongoing Naga Solution,” the hohos stated.
Appealing the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to refrain from any sort of physical confrontation and acts of violence, it expressed hope that the concerned NPGs would take note of its appeal to maintain peace and tranquillity.
