Kohima, July 10: The rival Naga outfits have stepped up their war of words, with each faction targeting the other over the Assam-Nagaland border spat. Accusing the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) of being involved in the killing of an Assam government official this month, the rival group played the Karbi card today. Deputy kilonser (minister) Kughalo Mulatonu said the Karbis should protest against the NSCN (I-M) while maintaining ?brotherly relations? with the Nagas. An economic blockade in Karbi Anglong last week has led to a shortage of essential commodities in Nagaland and Manipur.
Mulatonu named ?Capt.? Joyful Tangkhul and ?Maj.? Shangmi Tangkhul, allegedly of the NSCN (I-M), of being responsible for the murder of Assam government official Dipankar Das and a police constable at Aturkimi model village settlement.
He told the NSCN (I-M) to ?hand them over to the government of India? if it did not want to be held responsible for the incident. The NSCN (I-M) has ?hijacked? the friendship of the Nagas and Karbis, he alleged.
The Isak-Muivah faction has retaliated against accusations from Assam that the outfit was responsible for the killings. It has announced that none of its activists were involved in the exchange of fire. A senior functionary of the outfit blamed Assam police for firing mortars, which was followed by retaliation by the villagers. It has alleged that the Khaplang faction and security forces were conducting joint operations.
Mulatonu went to the extent of saying that the NSCN (I-M) ?will go to pieces in three months? even as the rival group said Khaplang?s men were upbeat with a Congress regime in place at the Centre. The Khaplang group has claimed responsibility for the killing of Mokokchung chamber of commerce secretary Tinumeren.
Police and security forces, in the meantime, have stepped up frisking of vehicles on National Highway 39.