The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has said that the fierce arms confrontation occurred on 19th March 2015 at Guiteng in Khoupum valley between the cadres of the outfit and NSCN-IM was the backlash to NSCN-IM dastardly incursion into the fault-lines of the ZUF operational area.
In an email to Imphal Times, Information & Publicity Secy of ZUF, L. Longmei said that the NSCN-IM cadres intruded the area and grossly violating the human rights and peaceful environment which is, in fact, against the Naga customary and international human rights norms. It said, “As per the witnessed of the Front, the cadres of NSCN-IM were dictating and harassing the innocent villagers at their will by ordering to bring their domestic livestock, rice and other essential commodities without payment.”
The statement further added that the villagers were also at gunpoint asked to carry their items as porters to different places of their destination. The harshest to bear for the villagers was that NSCN-IM made them to stand as a watchman in different strategic location vis-à-vis asked to guard their camp in order to shield their lives.
“Thus, to thwart out the misery of the villagers, ZUF carried out an operation against them”, said the email.
It further added that, two NSCN-IM cadres were shot dead on spot and another two were seriously wounded. In aftermath of the operation the cadres of ZUF also recovered one AK 47 with large quantities of ammunition and two common bags, the email ensured.
The email however added that the whereabouts of the two deceased cadres is not known until now. The two wounded cadres is informed to have handed over to Assam Rifles by the Khoupum Village Authority Council.
“The NSCN-IM’s usual anathema practice of hiding their deceased cadres, by burying in the jungle, without informing the family and public simply to conserve their wrong doers in the eyes of general public seem to expose this time too. This practice is just not a violation of Naga customary laws but all norms of United Nations Human Rights which the NSCN-IM most adored off.