Violence in Nagaland affects State

Imphal, May 21: A large number of organisations in Manipur have expressed concern over the recent spurt of violence in Nagaland which has also affected the Manipuri people residing in Nagaland.

Official sources said recently six people of the Tangkhul tribe, originally from Ukhrul district of Manipur, were found killed near Dimapur in Nagaland.

Following the killing, the NSCN-IM's ''ministry of information and publicity'' alleged that the six people were abducted on May 13 by the cadres of the NSCN( Unification).

The Manipur-based Naga Students' Union, Chandel (NSUC) appealed to all the Naga underground factions to maintain peace.

Earlier, several organisations from Manipur, including the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women's Union, Manipur (NWUM) and Church organisations had also appealed to all to maintain peace.

Meanwhile, in Manipur too, tension was brewing within the NSCN(I-M), as some cadres had reportedly defected and formed the United Naga People's Council (UNPC).

President of the newly floated outfit S S Max said the UNPC had been formed to ''maintain peaceful relations between the people of the hill and valley districts of Manipur.'' The UNPC reportedly became functional from April 30.

The NSCN(IM), comprising about 70 cadres, has been fighting for the formation of a ''Greater Nagaland'' by integrating large areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

UNI