Army guns down NSCN militants on Indo-Myanmar border

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

The Army on Wednesday launched a major offensive against the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) (K) militants. Almost a dozen militants were gunned down.

The incident took place on the Indo-Myanmar border.

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The Army troop was on patrol when they came in contact with the militants.

The incident occurred in the north-eastern Nagaland.

Responding to a question about the incident at a Cabinet briefing later in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "There are no two opinions that Myanmar is a friendly country. Whatever information we get, we will inform you about it". 

However, a Facebook post by one Isak Sumi, who is on the 'Most Wanted List' of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said the encounter occurred on the outskirt of Langkhu village located inside Myanmar occupied Naga area, 10-15 km away from Indo-Myanmar border.

"The encounter started around 3 AM when the elite unit of the Naga Army detected a column of Indian Army approaching their temporary make shift camp in the outskirt of Langkhu village located inside Myanmar occupied Naga area, 10-15 kms away from Indo-Myanmar border. The exchange was continuing till the time of filing this report," said Sumi, who is referred to as the PRO of the NSCN by the NIA on its website updated last year.

He claimed that "three Indian soldiers were killed and an unconfirmed number injured but there was no casualty or injury on the Naga Army".

His post states that he is currently based in Yangon in Myanmar and his social media records as also the details on the NIA website state that he belongs to Zunheboto district in Nagaland.

The Army sources have maintained that it was "not a surgical strike". Its response came hours after Sumi's post.

The Army also said it had no casualties, though there were reports in a section of the media quoting the NSCN (K) Facebook page saying the Army had three casualties.

The Eastern Command also tweeted: "Reports of casualties to #IndianArmy personnel factually incorrect. Firefight occurred along Indo-Myanmar border at 0445 hrs today @adgpi."

In June 2015, the Army had conducted a similar operation against banned insurgent groups following the killing of 20 soldiers in Manipur. With PTI