Narendra Modi-led government on the verge of breakthrough with NSCN (Isak-Muivah)

At a time when it has gone for an all-out offensive against NSCN(K) or the Khaplang-led faction of Naga rebel outfit NSCN, the Modi government is on the verge of a breakthrough with its rival faction, NSCN (Isak-Muivah), according to highly placed sources.

"A major breakthrough in the talks with NSCN (IM) is expected to come very soon," said a source. The contrasting approach towards the two Naga insurgent groups, which started out as comrades, is significant as it reflects what could have been the trigger for the attack on the June 4 attack on an Army convoy at Chandel in Manipur in which 18 soldiers were killed.

Khaplang is said to be seething with resentment over the government's over tures to the Muivah faction and had unilaterally called off the ceasefire in midMarch from its end. According to intelligence inputs the Khaplang faction has around 400 rebels in its fold.

However, the operation on the Khaplang group camps across in Myanmar was planned much earlier, sources said, adding that it was not just in retaliation to the ambush on the Army convoy . The preparations for the commando raid were going on for the last two months with intelligence agencies on board.

Centre signs truce with 8 rebel outfits.

Mizo National Front president and former Mizoram CM Zoramthanga has brokered a peace deal between the Centre and United People's Front, a conglomerate of eight northeast militant outfits, as the two sides signed a suspension of operations deal, an MNF official said in Aizwal on Friday. At Tuesday's meeting, the Centre was represented by MHA officials headed by Sambhu Singh, joint secretary (Northeast).