On February 21, the ‘deputy leader’ of National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) identified as Kilonser KhampeiOpeiham Konyak was shot dead by a group of six unidentified miscreants at his residence in Tizit in Mon District of Nagalandnear Assam-Arunachal border, reports India TodayNE and The Morung Express. It has been reported that the NSCN-IM leader succumbed to a suspected inter-factional assassination.Konyak had a complex history of affiliations, having defected from the NSCN-Yung Yang faction (NSCN-K-YA) group in Myanmar to join the splinter group, Ang Mai faction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) before eventually surrendering to the Assam Rifles in 2023. Following his return from Delhi, he had joined NSCN-IM, adds East Mojo.