Kohima, March 26: Exchange of fire between rival National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) groups in Nagaland continued for the third consecutive day today even as security forces appeared helpless to control the situation.

In Suruhoto area of Zunheboto district, fighting was on between the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions today. An NSCN (K) activist was killed when four of the group?s rebels were ambushed by rivals while returning to Suruhoto from Zunheboto town, official sources said.

On Thursday, an NSCN (I-M) activist was killed and three were injured by the rivals. The Khaplang faction claimed today that two other rival activists were killed.

Zunheboto residents will stage a protest rally on Monday calling for the removal of designated camps of both the factions and restoration of peace in the district.

Earlier, women of the district had staged a torch march against the recurring factional clashes in the area. ?We are helpless and harassed. When we approached the NSCN (I-M), they said the fighting was the decision of the government,? said H.S. Rotokha, president of the Sumi Hoho, the apex body of the Sumi (Sema) tribe.

The Hoho president criticised the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, which, he alleged, was doing nothing to stop the fighting.

Chairman of the ceasefire monitoring group, Lt Gen. (retd) R.V. Kulkarni, is reportedly out of station. Villagers were unable to till their fields and children were missing school in Suruhoto, Rotokha said over phone from Zunheboto.

Both factions have one designated camp each in the Sema-dominated district. The NSCN (K) is stationed at Suruhoto and NSCN (I-M) has a camp at Ghatashi.

Sources in the Assam Rifles said mortars were being fired in the clashes and the NSCN (I-M) apparently wanted to take over the Khaplang camp. The I-M faction was getting reinforcements from outside the district, the sources added.

The NSCN (I-M) said the situation was critical to the ongoing peace process. ?The peace process has entered a very crucial phase now and the Khaplang group does not want it to succeed. Till these anti-national elements are there, this will go on,? said Kraibo Chawang, the outfit?s deputy kilonser (minister) for information and publicity.

Chawang said fighting was going on in the Toushem area of Tamenglong district of Manipur as well. Assam Rifles officials today went to Suruhoto to take stock of the situation. Assam Rifles officials in Zunheboto have held meetings with the district administration and public leaders to work out ways to restore peace. ?We are prepared to ensure peace in the residential areas,? an official said.