Naga Hoho, an apex body of major Naga tribes, and Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) is contemplating sending a delegation to meet the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) faction led by its chairman SS Khaplang to review its decision to abrogate from the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India.
“Discussions are in progress regarding the visit of a delegation comprising of ENPO and Naga Hoho to meet the NSCN (K) leadership,” said a joint Press statement by the two bodies on Thursday.
The statement said the move was aimed at ‘subjectively appealing and requesting’ the NSCN (K) to review and renew the unilaterally abrogated ceasefire with the Government of India in the interest of peace.
“We have decided to send a delegation to meet the NSCN (K) leadership. However, the details are yet to be worked out. We have send feelers to the NSCN (K) leadership but a formal contact is yet to be made with them,” said Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum while talking to The Pioneer on Thursday. He said the details of the plan will be finalised after receiving a feedback from the rebel faction.
It may be mentioned here that the NSCN (K) had on March this year abrogated from the ceasefire pact with the Government of India. The Naga insurgency group had been on a ceasefire since 2001. After the abrogation of the ceasefire, the NSCN (K) had intensified its attack on the security forces in three States - Nagaland, Manipur and in Arunachal Pradesh. On June 4 this year, an insurgency group led by NSCN (K) attacked a convoy of the Army in Chandel district of Manipur and killed 18 soldiers and injured 11 others.
The move of the Naga Hoho and ENPO assumes significance, particularly after the NSCN (IM)’s move to sign a framework agreement with the Government of India to accelerate the speed of the proposed Naga peace accord.
While the NSCN (IM)’s signing of the framework agreement has ushered in hope of bring back peace in the troubled State, a lasting peace is possible only when the NSCN (K) is also brought back to the negotiating table.
Woman among six Maoists held
Guwahati: The police in Assam’s Cachar district on Thursday arrested six people including a woman from neighbouring West Bengal for their involvement in Maoist activities.
Cachar Superintendent of Police Rajveer said a total of six people were arrested on Wednesday night from Dulalpur Tea Estate under Katigora police station in the district. “Two of the cadres - Amiruddin Ahmed and N Biswas (woman) were senior Maoist cadres. While Ahmed hails from South Salmara in Assam, Biswas hails from Nadia in West Bengal,” he said adding the rest four were from Cachar.
Both the senior cadres were involved in the Maoist activities for last 10 to 15 years, he said.