India agrees 'in principle' to unique arrangement for 6 eastern Nagaland districts

Guwahati: Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has stated that the government of India has agreed “in principle” to the unique arrangement for six eastern districts of Nagaland.

ENPO stated that Centre has agreed in principle to give financial, executive and legislative autonomy to the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).

ENPO and government representatives were engaged in a six-hour long meeting at Chumoukedima police complex.


ENPO president Chingmak Chang told media persons said that ENPO would not sign any document without financial, executive and legislative
autonomy. “They did give us anything in writing, but we have discussed all issues thoroughly.”

The central government officials were led by Northeast adviser, ministry of home affairs, AK Mishra, who is also the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks, ENPO team by its president Chang and state government representatives by additional chief secretary Sentiyanger Imchen.

The first round of tripartite talks on the FNT issue was held in New Delhi on December 13 last year.“Our demand was for separate statehood but the government of India offered the FNT. We hope that the government of India is serious and the solution will be acceptable and honourable to the ENPO,” Chang said.

Chang further said they could not come to a conclusion only on a few key issues among many key issues included in their proposal in today’s meeting.He further hoped that the next round of talks will be held very soon.

Chang also said they requested the central government representatives to allot a separate battalion or regiment of central forces to deal with the unemployment issue in the ENPO areas and enhancement and modernisation of village guards, which they accepted.

ENPO is seeking a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT)’ comprising six districts for seven backward tribes.

The ENPO has been demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ or separate state comprising six eastern Nagaland districts -- Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, inhabited by seven backward tribes -- Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung.

In October last year, the Nagaland cabinet accepted the proposal for granting and constituting a Frontier Nagaland Territory Authority (FNTA).

The ENPO and its allies had given a call to boycott the Assembly elections held in February 2023 but withdrew it later following an assurance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Nagaland has 60 Assembly seats and 20 of them are in these six districts.