Nagaland (Insurgency North East): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2008

Two unidentified gunmen shot dead Farkanudin, chairman of the Dimapur Muslim Council and gaonbura (headman) of New Market, at his residence in Dimapur on March 3-morning, according to Telegraph. He was reportedly a supporter of the Congress party. Read less...

According to Nagaland Post, unidentified militants hurled a bomb at the residence of I. Imkong, Congress Legislature Party leader, at Sangtemla ward in the Mokokchung town on March 5-night. Imkong was also the Congress party candidate from 29 Jangpetkong Assembly Constituency in the elections held on March 5. However, no one was injured in the blast. Read less...

According to The Hindu, approximately 85 percent of over 13 lakh voters exercised their franchise in Nagaland, which went to poll on March 5 to elect a new 60-member Legislative Assembly. Polling was by and large peaceful barring some stray incidents of miscreants damaging electronic voting machines (EVMs) and complaints of booth capturing lodged by some candidates. Z. Angami, Officer on Special Duty at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, said that the polling figures of Zunheboto district were still awaited and the final figure of polling in the State would be arrived at after getting inputs from the district. There were reports of miscreants damaging EVM in five places of Wokha and Phek districts. Angami said complaints of booth capturing had been lodged in some places. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 8. Read less...

On March 5, a major attack was averted in Dimapur when Assam Rifles (AR) personnel recovered lethal weapons meant to attack polling booths during Nagaland Assembly election, according to Sentinel. Official sources said the AR personnel intercepted a vehicle, carrying a mine, two hand grenades and two AK-47 rifles. The arms were recovered but the occupants managed to flee, the sources said adding the weapons were brought to attack some polling stations. Read less...

One self-styled ‘captain’ of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) was arrested by AR personnel in connection with an extortion case, reports United News of India. Read less...

Security forces arrested six militants of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – United (NSCN-U), including a senior ‘commander’, along with a cache of arms and ammunition at United North block in Dimapur on March 11-morning, Nagaland Post reports. The recovered arms included one AK-47 rifle with magazine, one .22 rifle, one double barrel 12 Bore DBBL, one 7.65mm pistol (Italian made) with three magazines, one.38 revolver and two Chinese grenades. Read less...

On March 12, a 12-member ministry of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) led by Neiphiu Rio was sworn in by Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, reports Nagaland Post. Following the swearing in ceremony, Chief Minister Rio said that his government would play the role of an active facilitator to bring about lasting peace, unity and oneness in the Naga family. "The need of the hour is peace and we will constitute a Political Affairs Committee at the earliest to strengthen our role of facilitator", he said. Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet had revoked the President's rule in Nagaland to pave way for the formation of a new government. Read less...

A militant of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang (NSCN-K), identified as Kitoyi Zhimo, of Zekiye village under Satakha sub-division in the Zunheboto district was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Electrical Colony in the capital Kohima on March 13, reports Shillong Times. Police recovered three empty cases, one live round of ammunition and one bullet head from the incident site. Read less...

A top National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K) militant, Kivi Kips, secretary of the Lota and National Social Welfare, and ‘Captain’ Vikiye Zhimomi, have defected to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) on March 16, reports Nagaland Post. Kips said in a statement, "Though holding no grudge or ill feelings towards any individual…I have realized that I had gone astray working without knowing that K- group neither holds political background nor future." In a separate statement, Zhimomi said some "political leaders at State" had misguided him and forced him to join the K-group. Both Kips and Zhimomi said henceforth they would work for the "mainstream organization" under the collective leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Muivah. Read less...

On March 25, a group of eight unidentified gunmen shot dead Roland Sangtam, an engineer employed in a government-run cement plant in the Phek district, according to Telegraph. Read less...

The NSCN-U alleged that four persons were abducted by the NSCN-IM on March 25 in Dimapur and one of them was tortured resulting in his death. Read less...

Two National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) leaders, Hangsing and Longshen, were reportedly abducted from their respective houses by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U) cadres on March 28, reports Nagaland Post. Read less...