[/caption]DIMAPUR, Jan 23: Nagaland continues to be tense with the factional feud between NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) intensifying during the past few days.
The turf war which start-ed in Dimapur in December last year shifted to Zunhe-boto, the hometown of Ki- tovi Zhimomi, the general secretary of NSCN (Khole-Kitovi), and then to Athi- bung where NSCN (Khaplang) over-ran the de-signated camp of its rival faction last week.
In a renewed spate of violence, the two rival NSCN groups clashed at Zunheboto where one ca-dre of the Khole-Kitovi group was critically injured, while in another skirmish in Kohima, an NSCN(K) commander and his son were injured.
In Zunheboto, NSCN (K) cadres reportedly attacked the residence of Kitovi Zhi-momi, Ato Kilonser of NSCN (Khole-Kitovi), at Amiphoto Colony in the wee hours of Sunday and also later in the afternoon. Hokugha, political organi-zer (PO) of the group, hai- ling from Melahumi village in Sumi region was critically injured in the attack.
According to the Khole-Kitovi group, four armed ca- dres of NSCN (K) attacked Hokugha while he was alighting from his vehicle near Shotomi village. He was critically injured in the gunfire.
In another incident at Kohima Saturday evening, the town commander of NSCN (K), ‘SS’ Maj Kive-khu and his son, Tovito, were injured when suspec-ted armed cadres of NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) fired at them near the Community Hall of Forest Colony at around 6:00 pm. The firing continued for nearly 10 minutes. While Tovito sustained injuries on his shoulder, Kive- khu has been admitted to the ICU with stomach injuries.
Sources said Kivekhu’s daughter, who was also in the vehicle, escaped unhar-med.
Security has been beef-ed up across the state to prevent further escalation of factional clashes, police sources said. Police and the Assam Rifles have been pressed into service to prevent movement of armed cadres and to ensure that the Ceasefire Ground Rules are adhered to, sources said. AR personnel are to be deployed near NSCN-designated camps.
Meanwhile, with the increase in inter-factional rivalry in the state resulting in firing and disturbing the peace of populated areas, the IGAR (N) has assured the general populace that security forces would be deployed around the designated camps of the two fac- tions to deter unauthorized movement of armed cadres to and from the camps.
A press release issued by IGAR (N) said the security forces would carry out spot-checking in the region to protect innocent civilians. The aim of the security forces is to defer the unauthorized move of armed ca- dres from the designated camps, the release said. The IGAR (N) sought the cooperation of the common peo- ple and also appealed to all NGOs, civil societies, Naga Hohos and the Church to ensure that good sense prevails among the Nagas.
~TSE
