Ousted NSCN (K) group chairman Khango Konyak is heading for India and is likely to join the NSCN (I-M) group.
A top I-M group leader confirmed that they were in touch with Khango Konyak since his ouster from the K group.
“There are clear indications that he will join our group with his supporters . He needs to be protected on his way from Myanmar,” the I-M group leader said on condition of anonymity.
It was however not yet clear how many fighters and leaders of the K group have sided with Khango since his ouster.
K group sources say at least two Konyak kilonsers namely Namlong Konyak and Piyong Konyak have decided to stick it out with the group in the council headquarters at Taga in Myanmar ‘s Sagaing Division.
Intelligence sources say dreaded commander Niki Sumi and the group’s publicity secretary Isak Sumi may have joined Khango with some Indian Naga fighters.
One veteran military intelligence official who has dealt with the K group said Khango has not left with many fighters and that the group combat strength was largely intact ” except a few commanders.
“That is why Khango may not have toyed with the idea of floating a break away faction . That is why he may be trying to merge his faction with the I-M group in a quest for survival,” he said.
But the I-M group have not yet formally intimated to Delhi about Khango ‘s possibility of joining their group.
The army has also received no instruction so far. As far as the army in concerned, the K group is a hostile group which abrogated the ceasefire in 2015 and attacked Indian troops.
So if their fighters are spotted anywhere, they would legitimate targets , unless otherwise instructed from the top.
Khango Konyak, a China trained guerrilla, took over as chairman of the K group last year after the death of the legendary Burmese Naga rebel leader SS Khaplang.
On last Friday, he was impeached by the group ‘ s general council but allowed safe passage for leaving the council headquarters.
Khaplang ‘ s nephew Yung Aung took over as acting chairman .