NSCN factions clash at Pukhato

Rival cadres of the two NSCN factions exchanged intermittent fire for around forty minutes from 3 p.m. at Pukhato village, some eight kilometers away from Kuhuboto town Thursday, though there was no report of casualty on any side. Talking to this Reporter, Village council chairman of Pukhato village said that NSCN (I-M) activists numbering some thirty five, had entered the village at around 8 a.m and were having their dinner at around 3 p.m, when, all of a sudden, some activists of ‘GPRN/NSCN’ entered the village.
According to police sources, more than hundred ‘GPRN/NSCN’ activists entered Pukhato village.
The Pukhato village council chairman said the NSCN (I-M) activists, numbering thirty five, resorted to firing. However, it could not be verified how the firing started or stopped, forty minutes later.
He said that during the exchange of fire, around ten houses were damaged including the windowpanes of a church building, the pastor’s residence, village rest house and CGI sheets of several villagers.
By the time police and AR personnel reached Pukhato village, the ‘GPRN/NSCN’ faction had already left the village while the NSCN (I-M) faction stayed on.
AR company commander of Nihokhu post, Major Ashwini and SDPO, Niuland Khalo who had earlier convened a dialogue with the commander of NSCN (I-M) told this reporter that the NSCN (I-M) activists had assured they would leave the village Friday morning after lunch.
Major Ashwini, when asked about Thursday’s clash said factions should not make villages or towns as battleground and should stay away from such places.
Meanwhile, condemning the factional clash at Pukhato village under Kuhuboto sub-division, the Kuhuboto Area Students’ Union (KASU) has appealed to both NSCN factions to restrain themselves from creating war-like situation in civilian populated areas.
KASU in a press release issued by its president Shikato A Swu and vice president Hetoi Awomi said such clashes were hampering the activities of public and students in particular.
Calling upon “national workers” to shun “hypocrisy, egoism and hostility” and to adopt, KASU urged them to instead adopt “love and peace.”