Nagaland tense NSCN factional feud intensifies

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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

Bus mishap in Kohima: Death toll 10, 33 injured

DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN) (Staff Reporter):  The death toll in Wednesday night’s bus accident rose to ten while the number of injured rose to 33, many of them in critical condition.

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As reported in Nagaland Post on Thursday, the bus carrying passengers from Imphal to Shillong plunged down a deep gorge at around 9.45 p.m.(near Piphema) after it reportedly developed brake failure.

Sources said the Network Rajdhani bus(MN-01-1833), carrying over 40 passengers skidded off the road then rolled down a few hundred feet below and some trees prevented it from going down further before turning turtle.

Rescue team of Dimapur Traffic and Medziphema police rushed to the spot and on Wednesday night and retrieved  three bodies.Several of the injured were rushed to Medziphema hospital while 16 were taken to Dimapur Civil Hospital by a CRPF ambulance.
Rescue efforts continued till early morning.

One of the injured passengers, S.L.Haothang(30) of the CRPF told Nagaland Post that the driver suddenly shouted “brake fail” and the next moment it plunged down the deep gorge.

Yaiphaba from Mayang Imphal said he was asleep on the last row when he suddenly felt a big shudder.When he woke up, Yaiphaba said the bus had turned turtle but he miraculously escaped with a minor cut on the head.

According to Traffic police sources, the cause of the fatal accident could have been “mechanical failure”.
Major rescue operations were conducted by Piphema youth organization, general council Piphema, Piphema women organization and 20 Assam Rifles (AR) ‘D’ Coy, according to Balie Angami, OC Traffic, Dimapur.

DSP Traffic I Rongsen said the timely and tireless help rendered by Phiphema villagers, AR and other volunteers saved many lives.
The mangled bus body was yet to be retrieved as more recovery vans were needed to hoist it up. Police said recovery would be done Friday at around 4 a.m. when traffic would be thin.

Traffic sources said an injured passenger said the driver of the bus managed to escape could not be confirmed. The bus owner was expected at Dimapur for investigation.

DSP Traffic Rongsen said  the dead bodies were put in coffins provided by the Dimapur district administration and handed over to relatives to be taken to their respective native places.

Dimapur Traffic sources said one woman, who was seriously injured refused to be taken to hospital as she continued to search for her missing daughter.  She later succumbed to her injuries even before reaching the hospital at Dimapur.

Two infants traveling with their aunty, miraculously escaped injuries.Another traumatized female child, who got separated from her father, was finally reunited with him at the Dimapur Civil Hospital Thursday.

Besides the district officials, Chumukedima town council advisors, Dimapur municipal council advisors, Dimapur Naga women hoho and Kuki welfare community Dimapur were also present at the hospital.

List of casualties
Police identified the dead as- Md. Bahao Uddin Mosa (M), s/o Md. Hesamuddin from Churapur Makha Leikai, Thoubal district; Thenching Kuki (F) of Songel village from Churachandpur district;  L. Lhungkhojang (M) of Loiloi Phai from Churachandpur district;  Hahat Kuki (F) of Bongbal Khulen from Kangpokpi Sardar Hills; Moirangthem Kumarjeet (M), s/o M. Shangai Singh of Kakching from Thoubal district; Gailatou Thaimai (M-27), s/o Paimeinga Paimai of Thoubal district;  Karunangeliu (F-55) w/o Guanghiim, Merryland ward-9 from Tamenglong district;  Chingkhoneng Kuki (F) of Molmom village from Sadar Hills;  Md. Rafiuddin (M-46) s/o Md Rafiba of Lilong Ushoipokpi Samongsang of Lilong and Lhaichin Kuki (F) of Molpaphai Sugnu from Churachandpur district.

CM condoles; ex-gratia for victims
Expressing deep pain over the tragic bus accident that claimed ten lives and injuring over 30 other co-passengers Wednesday night, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Thursday announced cash relief of Rs.50,000 each to the deceased and Rs.10,000 to those injured to meet “emergency requirements”.

In his condolence message, the chief minister Rio conveyed deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved families and prayed to God Almighty to grant solace and courage to withstand the loss. He also wished speedy recovery to the injured.

Meanwhile, chief minister Neiphiu Rio has acknowledged and lauded the prompt assistance offered by the neighbouring villagers, district administration and the Assam Rifles in the evacuation of the death and injured from the accident site.

~Nagaland Post

Hmar youth arrested with explosives

DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 (MExN): A sizable consignment of explosive gelatine, alongwith detonators and fuse wire, weighing around 115 kilograms was caught at the Dimapur railway station on Thursday, September 29. One person indentified as Alex Hmar (20 years) was arrested while a second, indentified as Rick Hmar managed to escape. The catch was the result of a combined effort of GRPS and RPF personnel stationed at the railway platform.

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The seized explosives included 920 gelatine sticks (weighing 125 grams each), 500 detonators and a roll of fuse wire measuring around 300 feet. The outer covering of the gelatine sticks bore the name of the manufacturing unit – one ‘Amin Explosives Pvt Ltd based in Yenvera, Nagpur.
According to Government Railway Police Station, Dimapur, the explosives were being shipped from Haflong in Assam to be disposed off in Dimapur to some unknown buyers here. The preliminary interrogation of the detained person revealed that he was hired by the absconding Rick Hmar for a sum of Rs. 4000 to assist the latter in transporting the explosives till the railway’s vehicle parking lot in Dimapur.
They had boarded a passenger train (BG Express) at Lumding earlier in the morning and were dressed in Indian Army combat fatigues. The train reached Dimapur at around 9:00 am. The explosives were contained in six bags concealed beneath garments. Sometime in November last year, 700 sticks of gelatine were caught from one person at the platform, who had alighted from the same passenger train.
GRPS said that when the duo was asked to disclose what was carried in their luggage, they told that they were carrying CSD items. However, they failed to produce any supporting documents or ID cards. Meanwhile, absconder Rick allowed Alex to do the talking and dashed towards the footbridge in the northern side of the platform making good his escape.
GRPS personnel also brought up the matter of criminal elements taking undue advantage of military fatigues. Military personnel usually take offence when railway police personnel ask them that they allow their luggage to undergo normal security check, just like other civilian passengers. This rather antagonistic attitude of the military personnel discourages railway police from frisking them; on the other hand it encourages criminals to take undue advantage, GRPS said.

~The Morung Express

50-60 new cases of HIV & AIDS every month in Dimapur

Dimapur,8 Sept,2011: Dimapur continues its march ahead in HIV & AIDS  figures with some 50-60 cases   detected every month, making it as the district with the highest number HIV & AIDS in Nagaland. This was revealed by District Programme Officer (DPO) District AIDS Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU) Meyisangla Lonkumer during the one-day HIV & AIDS awareness programme held on Wednesday at ‘Special handloom expo’.

The programme held at the Naga Shopping Arcade, was for the participants of the expo, by Touch Life Centre (VTP) Chumukedima and supported by DAPCU Dimapur.
Speaking on the program, DPO, DAPCU Meyisangla Longkumer said that 50-60 new cases of HIV & AIDS are detected every month at Dimapur making it the highest affected district in the state.

While educating the gathering on the awareness, prevention and discrimination associated with HIV & AIDS, she said that HIV & AIDS is not spread through touching, eating or sharing clothes but are spread through sexual activity and blood transfusion.

“More than 80% of HIV & AIDS is spread through sex” said DPO. Encouraging the gathering to educate and spread the awareness she said that any individual who indulges in “risky activity” should get themselves tested saying that free test and treatment are available at the district hospital or community health centers. “HIV & AIDS test is voluntary, we cannot force anyone to get tested” said DPO.

Further, she requested any HIV & AIDS patients to avail free medication from ART centre at Civil hospital.

~NPN