3 NSCN-IM cadres lynched in Tuensang

Kohima, Aug 19 (UNI) Three NSCN-IM cadres were lynched by an irate mob near Tuensang police station, about 235 km from here, yesterday.

Police here today said the enraged locals beat them to death after dragging them out of the police lock up.

The militants inside the lockup after the police arrested them while collecting vehicle tax near a police check gate.

''As we tried to stop them from collecting money illegaly, they picked up a fight with us and even fired at us,'' police officials said.One of our police personal was injured. However, the cadres were arrested.

Hearing about the cadre's arrest, about 250 locals assembled in front of the police station and demanded the police to handover the cadres to them. But when the police refused, the people broke open the lock up and dragged out the NSCN-IM cadres.

The injured policeman was rushed to the 12th Battalion of Assam Rifles hospital.

Meanwhile, an emergency security meeting was held at Tuensang yesterday in this regard apprehending retaliation by the outfit.

The Nagaland government has constituted an one-man judicial inquiry to investigate into the whole incident.

UNI