Nagaland CM wants NSCN-K to resume ceasefire

Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang on Saturday urged the central government to convince the NSCN-K to resume the ceasefire to avoid further violence in the state by the militant group.

The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) led by Myanmar-based S.S. Khaplang abrogated the ceasefire with the central government three months ago.

Chief Minister Zeliang said the NSCN-K intends to inflict further violence in the state.

"As per intelligence inputs, more violence is intended to be inflicted by the NSCN-K. The state government is taking all necessary precautions to avoid this," Zeliang said at the meeting of chief ministers of northeastern region with union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here.

"I also request the central government to persuade the outfit to rebuild the ceasefire from their end," he said.

Besides, the chief minister said his government was not informed by the union home ministry about the group's move to abrogate the ceasefire.

"Had we been informed in advance, we could have tried through our NGOs to convince Khaplang to continue the ceasefire in the interest of peace and as per the desire of the vast majority of Nagas," Zeliang said.

The NSCN-K unilaterally decided to abrogate the ceasefire in March, 14 years after signing the agreement.

Following the abrogation of the ceasefire, the rebel group has carried out several attacks against security forces in Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Last month, it ambushed an army convoy at Chandel in Manipur and killed 18 soldiers.