One Assam Rifles jawan was seriously injured after suspected insurgents attacked Assam Rifles outpost at Lampong Shanghah village, about 15 km away from Mon district headquarters in the wee hours of Tuesday. According to Mon police sources, the insurgents attacked the camp, which also housed the Village Guard (VG) office cum armory of Lampong Shanghah village at 2:30am.
Both the Assam Rifles and Village Guards quickly retaliated and the ensuing gunfight lasted for about 45 minutes, police said.
Although the gun fight occurred in a civilian populated area, there were no reports of civilian casualties. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The injured jawan identified as rifleman Modak of 41 Assam Rifles Charlie Company was reportedly manning the sentry post at the time of the attack. The jawan was evacuated to Mon district headquarters from where he was airlifted for medical attention.
Meanwhile, Army intelligence sources informed that one army major, on deputation to Assam Rifles, also suffered minor injury after being hit by splinters.
Empty shells of AK-47 and eight empty shells of Lathode grenade were recovered from the site.
The district administration led by deputy commissioner (DC) Mon, additional SP, assistant commandant VG, Konyak Union and Konyak Students’ Union arrived at the spot to take stock of the situation. No one has claimed responsible for the attack till the time of filing this report.
Organizations condemn
Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) and its six federating tribal bodies have vehemently condemned the unfortunate incident where the AR outpost was attacked on June 5 2018 at Sheanghah Lampong village about 15 kilometer away from Mon town.
ENPO through its media cell reminded all concerned of its December 18, 2007 Tuensang Resolution, in which the public of Eastern Nagaland expressed opposition to any form of violence, threats, intimidations or bloodshed within Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction.
ENPO reiterated its appeal to all concerned people to maintain peace and tranquility and to honour the same in the interest of peace in the region in particular and the entire state in general.
KU: Condemning firing incident, Konyak Union (KU) said that some unknown armed groups in the wee hours stormed the Village Guard (VG) camp at Lampong Sheanghah injuring two Assam Rifle personnel stationed there.
In a press release, KU president, Manlip Konyak, and general secretary, Honang Konyak, said they failed to comprehend why the village guard camp was attacked.
Asserting that village guards were the protectors of the village, the signatories said VGs’ sole duty was to maintain peaceful environment within its jurisdiction. They said KU did not expect “such atrocities” upon the Konyak VGs.
They said that KU along with Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) had conducted spot verification and observed that innocent villagers had to suffer the brunt of such “cruel atrocities.”
KU said all schools were closed and innocent villagers were held captive for interrogation. The union, however, expressed gratitude to the AR officer Captain Longnyu Konyak for responding to its plea and letting go the innocent villagers without any physical harm.
While urging the law enforcing authority to nab the culprits, the KU also asked those responsible for the firing incident to publicly state the cause for “such atrocities upon the peaceful soil of the Konyaks.”
KU reminded the responsible groups/factions that the firing incident was a direct challenge to the resolution of the Konyak Union in maintaining its territory as peace zone. The union has prayed for speedy recovery of the victims.
Meanwhile, KU has convened an emergency meeting on June 6, 2018 at 10am and requested all the Konyak frontal organisations (KNSK/KSU/KGOU/KVCU/KBBB/MDGBU) and KU advisory board to attend the meeting. KU stated that further course of action would be determined as per the outcome of the meeting.
MUMT: Monyin Union Mon Town (MUMT) has also vehemently condemned the attack on the camp of the Assam rifles and village guard at Lampong Sheanghah village.
In a press release, MUMT president, Wanglung Konyak, said the attack put the life of the innocent villagers at risk. He also questioned who would have been responsible if there were civilian casualties or had there been loss of innocent lives.
Without naming any group, union president appealed to the Naga national workers to refrain from violence.