Kohima, July 15 : Many heavily armed cadres of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN have allegedly intruded into Nagaland from Myanmar.
Sources said the cadres had come close to Tuensang town, about 350km from here, in an effort to capture their lost turf after the NSCN (K) split into Khole-Kitovi and Khaplang groups on June 7.
The Khole-Kitovi faction said the intruders were mostly non-Nagas from Myanmar and were currently camping at Tuensang village, causing mental and physical agony to innocent villagers.
It alleged that the Assam Rifles, stationed nearby, had turned a blind eye to the intruders and the clear violation of ceasefire ground rules and that there was a nexus between the Khaplang group and the Indian security forces.
The faction warned that the situation would go out of control if the “intruders” were not stopped.
The Khole-Kitovi group had termed Khaplang a Burmese national who should not interfere in Naga issues.
Sources told The Telegraph that tension was running high because of the presence of “Khaplang’s boys” at Kuthure and Wongto in Tuensang district.
The NSCN (K), on the other hand, warned of confrontation with the rival group if they did not stop provoking immediately. It said it would retaliate in multiple measures. “Blood shall flow and the NSCN/GPRN makes this declaration for all Nagas to place on record the culpability of Khehoi gangsters,” NSCN (K) sources said. The Khole-Kitovi group has its council headquarters at Khehoi near Dimapur.
There has been skirmish between the two groups in the last few days and the situation is deteriorating in the state.
The NSCN (K) said their cadres had been “arrested” and their hideouts raided by the Khole-Kitovi group.
It also said that the ceasefire was between the Centre and the Khaplang faction, not with Khole-Kitovi. “The ceasefire subject matter is an official business between the NSCN and the central government,” NSCN (K) sources said.
Tuensang police admitted the presence of Khaplang’s cadres near the town, but refused to comment.
“I will not comment on this,” additional superintendent of police Mongko Yanchu told this correspondent.
The district administration said situation was tense because of the presence of cadres from the rival factions.