DIMAPUR, Aug 28 - Seven NSCN-K cadres and an unidentified person were killed in a fierce gunbattle with security forces in between International Trade Centre under Noklak sub-division in Tuensang district of Nagaland and Hemphu village forest in Myanmar today. Sources said the firing which started at 1.30 pm was continuing till the time of filing this report.
A senior Nagaland Government official on condition of anonymity said they have so far received eight bodies. But, he could not confirm whether the dead included any civilian.
However, according to Defence sources, seven NSCN-K cadres were killed while three overground workers of the outfit and a jawan of the security forces were injured in the incident. The injured were evacuated to Army hospital at Rangapahar cantonment in Dimapur by two Army choppers, sources said.
A Defence release said the security forces neutralised seven NSCN-K cadres, including one woman cadre, in an exchange of fire along Pangsha town in Tuensang district. It said the incident happened when a patrol party of security forces on seeing a motorcycle approaching the road asked it to stop for checking. Suddenly, there was intense firing from a Gypsy and a Bolero that followed it, it said.
The security forces retaliated and in the ensuing firefight seven cadres of NSCN-K were killed while three over ground workers were injured. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the killed cadres. One soldier of the security forces was also injured in the firing from NSCN-K cadres.
The Defence release said the killed militants were from the NSCN-K camp located at Ponyu village under Myanmar and belonged to the group headed by self-styled Lt Gen Niki Sumi of the outfit.
