Sumi Nagas tell Centre to remove NSCN camps
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

Kohima, December 30 2011: Expressing fear of a resurgence of factional violence by underground groups, the apex council of Sumi Nagas has urged the Centre to remove all designated camps of NSCN factions from Zunheboto district or ask the groups to adhere to ceasefire ground rules.

A letter to this effect was sent to the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram by the Sumi Hoho after holding a silent procession protesting recent factional clashes here yesterday.

The letter claimed that the underground groups were not adhering to the ceasefire ground rules and the surveillance mechanism had failed resulting in intimidation, extortion and killings by their cadres.

The recent spurt in clashes between NSCN(K) led by SS Khaplang and GPRN/NSCN led by Khole and Kitovi resulted in the killing of two cadres in the district on the Christmas eve.

Additional armed police were deployed at Zunheboto and Suruhoto, the two places where tension prevailed following recent clashes and presence of camps of rival groups.

Although Nagaland witnessed virtual absence of clashes between rival groups for the past three years, the trouble began on December 16 at Dimapur when NSCN(K) tried to set up a sub-office of its ceasefire supervisory cell in the town which was strongly opposed by GPRN/NSCN.

On Wednesday, a civilian received bullet injuries when assailants opened fire and shot dead a cadre of GPRN/NSCN inside a mela ground at Dimapur, police said.

As people feared resurgence of factional clashes might spread beyond Dimapur, three passers-by were injured by stray bullets when an underground cadre fired at another in Kohima yesterday.

Expressing concern over the recent escalation of factional clashes, the apex tribal council Naga Hoho urged warring factions to stop fighting and spare civilian areas.

In a statement, Hoho General Secretary P Chuba Ozukum also urged the district administration and civic bodies to step up vigil.

The state government and the Angami Public Organization also appealed to shun the "culture of violence" .

The NSCN factions are currently in a peace pact with the Government of India.

Comment