Noney: Western Manipur’s Noney district turned into a battleground again on August 29 after rival factions of a Naga armed group opened fire at each other in dense forest areas. Two militants lost their lives and at least six sustained bullet injuries in two separate encounters that occurred within a gap of few hours. The fighting is linked to long running power struggle between two leaders of the same organisation.
The first exchange took place at Oktan under Haochong sub-division during afternoon hours. Police said information was received about indiscriminate firing deep inside the jungle, about 21 km from Noney police station. Later it was confirmed that one senior functionary of ZUF-Kamson group identified as Dingtiplung Gonmei alias Nguiba Gonmei, who was holding the post of chief secretary, died after being hit by bullets.
The second and more intense gunfight broke out early morning around 6 am between Nungtek Part Two and Haochong, hardly 5 km from Noney headquarters. According to police, a team of ZUF-Jenchui cadres was ambushed by the rival Kamson group. Explosions and automatic firing were heard by villagers for several minutes. One young cadre Jangailung, 29 years old from Muktina village and said to be second lieutenant of ZUF-J, was killed on the spot.
Six cadres who were injured in the morning ambush were carried out of the forest with difficulty and rushed to Imphal. They are undergoing treatment at two private hospitals. Villagers said Meira Paibi women and local police tried to intervene but were forced to return midway due to fear of being caught in crossfire. The exact number of injured is still being verified.
The reason behind the clash is stated to be control over Zeliangrong inhabited zones in Khoupum Valley and adjoining hills. ZUF was floated in 2011 by leaders who broke away from NSCN-IM and NSCN-K to work for protection of Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei tribal communities. Over the years it raised a separate armed unit called Zeliangrong Tiger Force and started demanding a unified administrative unit for all Zeliangrong areas spread across Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.
Internal differences led to a vertical split in 2017 when S. Kamson camp expelled Jenchui Kamei and his supporters. Though both camps came together on July 17, 2018 after intervention of Zeliangrong elders, church leaders and civil bodies and took oath for unity under chairman Raitu Chawang, the patch up did not last long. Since then the outfit has been functioning as ZUF-J and ZUF-K.
In an effort to bring peace in western Manipur, the Government of India and Manipur government had signed a tripartite Cessation of Operations pact with ZUF in New Delhi on December 27 and 28, 2022. As per the pact, cadres were to stay in designated camps, surrender violence and allow a Joint Monitoring Group to check compliance. Despite the pact, reports of extortion and factional shootouts have continued to surface from Noney and Tamenglong districts, putting question mark on effectiveness of the ceasefire on ground.
