NSCN (IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu dead
Source: The Sangai Express / PTI

New Delhi, June 28 2016: Naga militant leader Isak Chishi Swu, who led a bloody insurgency in the North East for over three decades, died on Tuesday following multi-organ failure.

The 87-year-old chairman of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) was undergoing treatment for almost a year at a private hospital in South Delhi where he breathed his last around noon, Nagaland Government spokesperson Kuolie Mere said.

Swu, who belonged to the Sumi tribe, hailed from the Zunheboto district of Nagaland and his body will be taken to his native place tomorrow for last rites.

Th Muivah, former CM of Nagaland Nephiu Rio and others paying their last respect to Isak Swu

Swu along with NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and SS Khaplang formed the group in 1980 opposing the Shillong Accord signed by the then Naga National Council (NNC) with the Central Government for bringing peace in Nagaland.

The NSCN split into the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (Khaplang) faction in 1988.Over the years, NSCN-IM has been accused of indulging in killings, extortion and other subversive activities.

Its persistent demand for separation from the country, led to military clamp down on the group. In 1997, NSCN-IM entered into a truce with the Central Government for peace and since then has been continuing dialogue with Centre's emissaries.

In August last year, the NSCN-IM signed a Framework Agreement with the Government which Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a "historic" step to usher in peace in the State.

The pact was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval by Muivah and Government's interlocutor RN Ravi at the PM's residence here.

The signing of the pact came after over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 16 years with first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed.

Swu joined the Naga National Council (NNC) in the 1950s and served it in different capacities till its split in 1980.Born in 1929 to Kushe Chishi Swu, he did his early schooling at American Mission School in his native village, Chishilimi and then studied at Government High School, Kohima and graduated with honours in Political Science from St Anthony's College, Shillong.

Isak Swu joined the underground movement in the 1950s and served as the foreign secretary in the Naga National Council under the leadership of the late Angami Zapu Phizo.

Swu is married to Khulu and is survived by five sons and one daughter.