Date:05/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060560721700.htm

National

NSCN (I-M): unification faction started the fight

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: Twelve Naga militants were killed in a gun battle between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and its rival faction NSCN (Unification) at Qhelhozhe Basti, near Nagaland’s commercial capital Dimapur during the early hours of Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, L. Lotha told The Hindu that bodies of 12 cadres of the Unification faction were recovered from the battle site. Since there was no witness it was not yet clear who started the fight.

The NSCN(I-M), however, claimed that 13 members of the rival faction were killed while one of its cadres was injured in the battle. It alleged that it was the rival faction which started the battle, attacking the ‘Naga Army’ of NSCN at 3.30 a.m.