Centre seeks reports on Naga group clashes
Nirendra Dev
NEW DELHI, June 14: Amid sporadic turf war among various Naga militant factions claiming several lives, the Centre has sought reports from the state governments in Nagaland and Manipur and directed them to take corrective steps.
A letter was sent to the chief ministers, Mr Neiphiu Rio and Mr O Ibobi Singh, late last month seeking detailed reports on the growing number of group clashes. In the latest round of factional fighting, two people, including one home guard personnel, were killed near Kohima super market area yesterday.
The Centre now intends to undertake a joint crackdown on militant groups along with Myanmar.
The Indian government recently sent to Myanmar a list of Indian militant groups ostensibly operating in that country. Besides the Naga groups, the list includes Manipur-based groups and the ULFA as well. Sources said the government is still awaiting a response from the eastern neighbour.
The newly elected Congress leader of the Opposition in the Nagaland assembly, Mr Chingwang Konyak told The Statesman over phone from Kohima that law and order situation in Nagaland is deteriorating fast. “The state government is just directionless,” he alleged.
The Centre fears that the group clashes in Nagaland could erupt into a major ethnic feud. In two separate rounds of gun battles, on 16 May and 3 June, at least 24 militants, mostly from a particular Naga tribe, were killed by NSCN (IM) activists near Chumukedima in close proximity to the state’s commercial hub of Dimapur.
Central agencies are meanwhile keeping fingers crossed as the NSCN (IM) chairman Mr Isak Chishi Swu recently had a telephonic conversation with his estranged compatriot in the undivided NSCN and now chairman of the rival group, Mr S S Khaplang. The development, said to be aimed at seeking “unification” of factions, northeast watchers suggest, could change the various intricacies of Naga militancy as well as the state politics riddled with tribalism.
As the Tangkhul Nagas are pre-dominantly present in the hilly region of Manipur, the Centre also does not want to leave anything to chance on whether these could have repercussions in Manipur.
The Union home minister Mr Shivraj Patil is personally taking keen interest in the implemention of tri-partite talks between the Centre, Kuki militants and the Manipur government.
The fear is that the factional violence in Nagaland could leave its impact in Manipur as Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis are infamous for their “love-hate relationship”.
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NEW DELHI, June 14: Amid sporadic turf war among various Naga militant factions claiming several lives, the Centre has sought reports from the state governments in Nagaland and Manipur and directed them to take corrective steps.
A letter was sent to the chief ministers, Mr Neiphiu Rio and Mr O Ibobi Singh, late last month seeking detailed reports on the growing number of group clashes. In the latest round of factional fighting, two people, including one home guard personnel, were killed near Kohima super market area yesterday.
The Centre now intends to undertake a joint crackdown on militant groups along with Myanmar.
The Indian government recently sent to Myanmar a list of Indian militant groups ostensibly operating in that country. Besides the Naga groups, the list includes Manipur-based groups and the ULFA as well. Sources said the government is still awaiting a response from the eastern neighbour.
The newly elected Congress leader of the Opposition in the Nagaland assembly, Mr Chingwang Konyak told The Statesman over phone from Kohima that law and order situation in Nagaland is deteriorating fast. “The state government is just directionless,” he alleged.
The Centre fears that the group clashes in Nagaland could erupt into a major ethnic feud. In two separate rounds of gun battles, on 16 May and 3 June, at least 24 militants, mostly from a particular Naga tribe, were killed by NSCN (IM) activists near Chumukedima in close proximity to the state’s commercial hub of Dimapur.
Central agencies are meanwhile keeping fingers crossed as the NSCN (IM) chairman Mr Isak Chishi Swu recently had a telephonic conversation with his estranged compatriot in the undivided NSCN and now chairman of the rival group, Mr S S Khaplang. The development, said to be aimed at seeking “unification” of factions, northeast watchers suggest, could change the various intricacies of Naga militancy as well as the state politics riddled with tribalism.
As the Tangkhul Nagas are pre-dominantly present in the hilly region of Manipur, the Centre also does not want to leave anything to chance on whether these could have repercussions in Manipur.
The Union home minister Mr Shivraj Patil is personally taking keen interest in the implemention of tri-partite talks between the Centre, Kuki militants and the Manipur government.
The fear is that the factional violence in Nagaland could leave its impact in Manipur as Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis are infamous for their “love-hate relationship”.
If you like this article Share it and spread the word!
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