Seven Rengma Naga Christians killed by militants in Assam

At least seven Rengma Naga Christians, including three women were killed in a remote village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Friday during a clash between Karbi tribe militants and Rengma Naga who defied quit notice served on them by the ultras.

A small community of Rengma Nagas, who are mostly Christians settled in Chokihola locality under Nilip development block of Bokajan subdivision commanded by Santipur and Chokihola police station are engaged in agriculture, cultivate of orange and livestock for many years; but recently they have been asked to leave the area by the outlawed Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT).

Police source said four Rengma Naga villagers were shot dead inside their thatched dwelling houses by a group of about 15 heavily armed militants, suspected to be from the KPLT.

The militants were reported to have torched at least 25 houses and several granaries.

Three of the KPLT guerillas were also killed by the militant Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force (RNHPF), another militant group in a retaliatory attack.

The incident occurred at Khuwani basti, under Santipur police station of Bokajan subdivision, around 180 kilometres from Diphu, the headquarter town of Karbi Anglong hill district.

About 500 Rengma Naga villagers from the affected village and adjoining areas have fled from the troubled area leaving behind their homes and orange orchards. According to Assam police, around 500 panic-gripped Rengma villagers have taken shelter in Silonijan, a semi-urban area around 50 kilometers from the Rengma settlement.

Two relief camps have been set up by the administration near Chokihola police station for accommodating around one thousand Rengma Naga villagers.

Meanwhile security forces have launched a massive combing operation in the suspected hideouts of KPLT militants.

KPLT has launched an armed movement for the creation of separate state for Karbi tribals. The militant outfit imposes 'taxes' on non-Karbi communities living in the district. Failure to pay such 'taxes' to KPLT led the militant outfit to attack Naga villages.

The Assam government has rushed three companies of additional forces to the affected village.