IMPHAL, August 22: A man was today shot dead at an Aimol Village in Chandel district allegedly by NSCN (IM) cadres however with two conflicting versions of the incident.
According to a version supported by the victim`™s family, NSCN (IM) militants numbering around 13/14 shot dead S Walunglow Aimol alias Manglun (50) of Ngairong Village and indiscriminately fired several rounds from automatic weapons besides lobbing grenades at the house of former assistant chief of Ngairong Village under Tengnoupal Police Station in Chandel District today.
Another version claims that the man was killed in a gun-fight between NSCN (IM) which signed a Peace Accord with the Centre recently and the United Kuki Liberation Front which is a signatory of the Suspension of Operation with the State and Central governments.
According to the first version, Ngairong Village which is an Aimol village was attacked by the suspected NSCN (IM) militants around 4:30 this morning.
The suspected NSCN (IM) militants fired several rounds from automatic rifles and lobbed two hand grenades inside the house of (L) Jialungphun, former assistant chief of Ngairong Village.
Apart from shattering window glasses, several bullet holes and bomb splinters marks were also seen on the walls of the house, informed sources.
Manglun`™s house is located next to Jialungphun`™s residence.
According to an unconfirmed source, one person got injured due to the attack. But when enquired about any other casualties by the media persons, the villagers and the house owner denied any other casualties in the attack.
High ranking police officers along with police personnel and Assam Rifles personnel rushed to the spot on receiving information of the incident.
Meanwhile, a police team from Tengnoupal Police station led by Officer in Charge of the Station retrieved the body for post mortem at JNIMS Imphal, informed the source.
According to S Alianchung Aimol son of the deceased former assistant village chief, the incident happened at around 4.30 early this morning when some well-armed suspected militants fired indiscriminately from all directions and lobbed two grenades through a window.
And after the militants escaped, we came to know that the militant shot dead a villager near our house, he added.
His wife S Athem Aimol said `When I woke up and went outside this morning, I saw some well-armed militants taking position outside the house.`
`Dispite one of the militant waving his hand and signaling me to run away from the house, I ran back inside the house as my husband was still sleeping.`
She also narrated that soon after he ran inside there was a burst of gunfire, and fortunately none of her family members were injured as they remained lying on the ground.
She also informed media persons that the attackers spoke Angami language.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, S Areng Aimol, elder brother of the victim, claimed his brother was killed by those working to declare Aimol as a Naga tribe as his brother was against the calling of Aimol as a Naga Tribe.
Today, my brother sacrificed and gave his life for the cause of the Aimol who are not a Naga tribe, he added.
At the same time a contradictory version of the incident says that cadres of the United Kuki Liberation Front had ambushed NSCN-IM cadres at Ngairong Village this morning. However, in the cross-firing between the two groups, PRO of UKLF, S Walunglow, 50, son of (L) Wannalaw of Aimol Ngairong died in the cross fire while two UKLF cadre and one NSCN IM cadres suffered injuries.
Source said that the two UKLF cadres suffered bullet injuries in their legs while the NSCN IM cadre was shot in his hand.
It is also claimed that two alleged UKLF cadres belonging to Khodamphai village and Moreh, on an Activa had injured two Aimol girls from Kombirei village on some days back at Pallel bazar.
The two were apprehended by the Kombirei Village authority and later released after being made to sign an angreement, however, the NSCN (IM) took them under their custody for further interrogation which provoked the Kuki community in and around Pallel leading to a tense situation in the area since yesterday.
The high tension drama had persisted with the people demanding the releases of the two UKLF cadres.
Following the tension, the NSCN (IM) cadres were moving to another place for their safety when the ambush occurred, according to a source.