EMN
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 28
A public uprising against highhandedness of the NSCN (IM) has resulted in the dead of one civilian youth and injuries to at least five persons when the irate mob clashed with the NSCN (IM) on December 28 evening in Mughali village under Pughoboto sub-division in Zunheboto district.The civilian youth who was killed in the incident has been identified as Paketo of Zunheboto Town while the proper identity of the others is awaited.
Sumi Hoho secretary Vihuto Asumi said that around 13000 volunteers from all the Sumi villages mostly youth, with any available arms and machetes had reached the designated camp of NSCN (IM) in Mughali under Pughoboto sub-division of the district, located some 30-40 kms from Zunheboto town.
Asumi said that after reaching the spot at around 4:00 pm, the leaders of the apex bodies, which included the women, youth and students’ organizations tried to negotiate with the NSCN (IM) leaders to vacate the camp.
However, noticing that there was no sign of retreat from the NSCN (IM) cadres despite the long argument, the irked public and the outfit’s cadres resorted to blank firing. Nonetheless, within no time the NSCN (IM) opened fire upon the volunteers which led to killing one of the youth on the spot while five others sustained bullet injuries, he alleged.
The injured have been rushed to the nearby health centres for treatment, he said adding that there are no reports of casualty on the part of the NSCN (IM) cadres.
The secretary Sumi Hoho said the firing stopped by late evening, but thousands of volunteers are still stationed outside the camp of NSCN (IM). He said further action would be taken only by tomorrow morning.
Today’s clash was an outcome an incident on December 21 wherein four NSCN (IM) cadres waylaid a Zunheboto bound Tata Sumo near Aghuito town, some 12 km from Zunheboto town and attempted to ‘rape’ and ‘molest’ two female passengers and also inflicted injuries to two other male passengers.
The incident triggered mass resentment among the Sumi community thereby resulting to a massive rally on December 22 in Zunheboto town which demanded the erring cadres to be handed over to the district administration within three days. The rally resolved to launch non cooperation towards the NSCN (IM) if the authority fails to comply within the stipulated period.
Subsequently, another rally was held on December 26 in which the public resolved to flush out the NSCN (IM) from Sumi inhabited areas as part of non cooperation towards the latter. It had also asked 25 members from each Sumi village to report at Zunheboto town on December with available arms to carry out the flush out operation against the NSCN (IM) from Zunheboto district.
