The NSCN (IM) on Sunday has issued a clarification regarding the May 31 incident between Namsang and Shumshi village under Deomali jurisdiction in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Two cadres of NSCN (Unification) were reportedly killed while a civilian was injured in the incident.
In a press statement issued by its ministry of information and publicity, the outfit made it clear that the engagement in the gunfight resulting in loss of precious lives was never intended.
“It was an absolute unintentional occurrence, never motivated by any ill-attempt to disrespect all that the Naga civil bodies have ceaselessly embodied in various covenants in their thrive for Journey Of Common Hope,” it said.
It said unlawful activities such as forcible collection, ransom demand and holding captives for ransom payment were constantly relayed to the GPRN (Government of People’s Republic of Nagalim) authority, evidences and proof of impersonating late “Major” John was ascertained, use of NSCN letter pad and forcible collection of taxes in the name of NSCN were routinely reported to its base.
The release said when the father of late Rasil Ali, a victim of the incident, personally came to speak to NSCN authority alleging that his son was abducted by the NSCN (IM) under the command of “Maj Gen. Raman”, the NSCN officials in the location assured him that he had no reason for worry if his son had been taken away by the NSCN.
The NSCN (IM) explained that it had dispatched a column to the vicinity, the site of the May 31 incident, to ascertain the various reports pouring in to the NSCN base and also to take stock of the overall situations prevailing there.
The column came under heavy fire and a short but fierce gun battle followed as the NSCN cadres’ column returned the fire, resulting in the unfortunate bloodshed.
“Late Rasil Ali was fully clad in military fatigue when his mortal remain was retrieved from the spot. Why an innocent son of a business man who was recently abducted, clothed in military camouflage is a matter of common understanding with logical conclusion,” the NSCN (IM) stated.
It called the incident “more unfortunate and most uncalled for” as it happened at a time when all the Naga people are yearning for peace the most.
“It has to be critically examined and understood the reality from both sides of the story so that unwelcomed consequence may be avoided in view of the perceived elements always trying to work up frenzy in order to disrupt what has dearly been achieved through various painstaking peace initiatives by the Naga people to move the Peace Process forward to its ultimate destiny,” the NSCN (IM) stated.
“The unfortunate victim identified as Rasil Ali could have unfolded stories behind all these most unwanted operation carried out by those unfortunate victims had late Rasil Ali been found alive to stand witness to all the wild and most inflammable narratives carried by different news channels and social media as well,” the outfit said adding one Gulap Homcha RP who has been hospitalized and recovering now can be another witness to the truth and facts about the recent incident.
The release further stated the NSCN could never expect presence of NSCN (U) in the region where the incident took place as the stand of the latter is officially clear that it has no doctrine of expanding its territory and that it operates in the current state of Nagaland only.