Sapotimi Kughuko Kuposhukulu Dimapur (SKKD) has strongly condemned Khekato Kinny, vice president of NSCN/GPRN (Khango) faction, accusing him of leading an armed raid with the intent to murder Mughato Chophy, finance kilonser of NSCN/GPRN (Reformation) and its bonafide member, on May 23 night around 11 p.m.
In a statement, SKKD president Kikheshe Chophy and general secretary Ikato Y. Kiho said that Khekato Kinny allegedly stormed the private residence of Mughato Chophy along with 30 armed cadres carrying automatic weapons.
The cadres reportedly broke into the compound by scaling the wall.
SKKD said that though the security personnel present at the site attempted to intervene, they were overpowered, manhandled at gunpoint, and had their weapons and mobile phones seized. The cadres also reportedly fired several rounds, it added.
SKKD asserted that had the guards not intervened in time, the incident could have led to loss of lives of fellow Naga brothers.
At a time when Naga leaders, civil society groups, and the public have been praying for unity among the fragmented factions, SKKD said such an act– an attempt to kill fellow Nagas by a high-ranking underground leader (vice president), reflected as mere power monger without any objective of Naga freedom struggle, which Nagas had been dreaming for decades.
SKKD said such cowardly act must be condemned by all upright citizens of Nagaland.
SKKD further claimed that several of the cadres involved in the raid were identified through CCTV footage.
UVYO: Unity Village Youth Organisation (UVYO) has expressed deep concern and unequivocally condemned the heinous and reprehensible incident that occurred at Unity village around 11 pm on May 23 in which NSCN (Khango) vice-president Khekato Kinny with around 30 cadres equipped with highly sophisticated weapons reportedly forcefully entered the private residence of NSCN (R) finance kilonser Mughato Chophy.
UVYO said that security personnel manning the gates were not only overpowered and physically assaulted but was also subjected to a point-blank firing with an intent to kill if faced with any confrontation.
Reiterating that it did not favour or endorse any political group, the UVYO however in a press release stated that such a despicable act of any group was cowardly when all Nagas were yearning for peace and standing tall for the call of unity of all different factions.
The youth body claimed that the incident had not only caused mental trauma to the peace-loving citizens but also deeply disturbed the peace in the village, calling for urgent justice and immediate action.
Expressing outrage over this sheer act of intimidation, the UVYO said it expected a comprehensive and swift response from the relevant authorities so that all the culprits involved in this vile act were brought to justice at the earliest.
The organisation declared that it stood with the Unity Village Council resolution of May 25 so that recurrence of such incidences could be averted in the near future.