Nagaland: Government cancels ceasefire pact with NSCN-Khaplang

NEW DELHI: Taking a tough stand, the government today cancelled its ceasefire agreement with dominant Naga insurgent group NSCN (Khaplang) and decided not to engage with it in future.

"The government has decided not to engage with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) [NSCN/K] any longer and therefore the earlier ceasefire agreement with NSCN/K is no longer valid," a Home Ministry statement said.

The Ministry has not clarified the reasons for break down of the talks and cancellation of the ceasefire pact.

However, sources said, the decision has been taken in view of the NSCN-K's involvement in insurgent activities, violating the ground rules of the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Centre has signed a ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Reformation) [NSCN/R] for a period of one year.

The pact was signed by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Shambhu Singh and co-conveners on behalf of NSCN/R Wangtin Konyak and P Tikhak, an official release said.

The ceasefire and the mutually agreed ground rules would apply for a period of one year with effect from today.

The government has also extended the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khole-Kitovi) [NSCN/KK] for a further period of one year with effect from today.

This agreement was signed Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Shamnbhu Singh and Supervisor of GPRN/NSCN Jack Jimomi, the release said.