DIMAPUR, June 6 - The Eastern Nagaland Peoples� Organisation (ENPO) and its six federating tribal bodies, including the Konyak Union and the Monyin Union Mon Town, today strongly condemned the attack on an Assam Rifles outpost at Sheanghah Lampong village, about 15 km from Mon town, by suspected militants on Tuesday.
An Assam Rifles jawan sustained serious injuries, while an Army major, on deputation to the Assam Rifles, suffered minor injuries after being hit by splinters. The insurgents attacked the camp, which also housed the Village Guards� office-cum-armoury in Lampong Shanghah village, at 2.30 am, Mon Police sources said.
They said both the Assam Rifles and the Village Guards quickly retaliated and the ensuing gun fight lasted for about 45 minutes. There were no reports of civilian casualties even though the gun fight occurred in a civilian locality. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The ENPO reminded all concerned of its December 18, 2007 Tuensang resolution, which states that the public of Eastern Nagaland expresses opposition to any form of violence, threats, intimidations or bloodshed within the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction. It reiterated its appeal to all concerned to maintain peace and tranquillity and honour the resolution in the interest of peace in the region in particular and the entire State in general.
Condemning the firing incident, the Konyak Union said some unknown armed groups in the wee hours on Tuesday stormed the camp at Lampong Sheanghah, injuring two Assam Rifles personnel stationed there.
In a press release, the union said it failed to comprehend why the Village Guards� camp was attacked. The Konyak Union, along with the Konyak Students� Union, conducted a spot verification and observed that innocent villagers had to suffer the brunt of such �cruel atrocities.�
They said all schools were closed and innocent villagers were held captive for interrogation. The Konyak Union, however, expressed gratitude to Assam Rifles Captain Longnyu Konyak for responding to its plea and letting the innocent villagers go without any physical harm.
